JAMES H. BROOKES: 

A MEMOIR. 

THE Vl B ft ART 

or CONGRESS 

WASHINGTON I 

BY 

DAVID RIDDIyE WILJJAMS. 





PUBLISHED FOR DR. BROOKES' FAMILY, BY J W. ALLEN. D.D., MflNHGER 

ST. LOUIS DEPOSITORY, 
PRESBYTERIflN BOARD 2F PUBLICATION. 



BUSCHHRT BROS. FRIflT ST, LOUIS, MO> 

....1897.... 



, B755 W5 



5262 

Copyright, 1897. 
by s. o. brookes and d. r. williams. 



LOVINGLY DEDICATED 
TO 

O. B. W. AND S. O. B. 



CONTENTS. 



Chapter I. "The Child is Father of the Man." 

II. The Youth. 

III. The Collegian. 

IV, At Princeton Seminary. 
V. The Settled Pastor. 

VI. Called to St. Louis. 

VII. Troublous Times. 

VIII. The 16th and Walnut Street Church. 

IX. The Washington and Compton Ave, 
Church. 

X. The Preacher and Pastor. 

XI. "How I Became a Pre-millennialist.' ! 

XII. The Bible Scholar. 

XIII. The Author. 

XIV. The Editor. 
XV. Side-Lights. 

XVI. "Captain Greatheart. " 

XVII. Looking Backward. 

XVIII. Pastor Emeritus. 
XIX. Translated. 

XX. Appendix. 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 

v James H. Brookes. (From* his last photograph. ) 

Dr. Brookes as a young man. 

Dr. Brookes in middle age. 

J The Washington and Compton Avenue Church. 

^ Fac-simile of an interleaved page in one of Dr. 
Brookes' Bibles. 

Fac-simile of a page of Dr. Brookes' Bible notes. 

^ Dr. Brookes' Library. 

v The Children and their Chosen Playfellow. 

^ Auditorium, Washington and Compton Avenue 
Church. 



PREFACE. 

This memoir of my father-in-law, Dr. James Hall 
Brookes, the world-honored preacher, author, editor, 
— and great and good man, — was written at the re- 
quest of his family and intimate friends. 

That the facts of his life should be preserved for 
all time, in some such form, was patent. And as no 
one older and abler stepped forward to do the work, 
the writer undertook it, with natural hesitancy; yet 
gladly as a labor of love. 

The layman author fully recognizes his limita- 
tions in such a memoir, and has studiously avoided 
getting in an inch beyond his depth. No philosophi- 
cal analysis of character is attempted — the facts are 
presented. Those facts have been laboriously gleaned 
and are correct, coming from first sources. 

Nor is any effort made to discuss Dr. Brookes' 
theological beliefs (it is needless to add). His own 
words are quoted. 

As a presentation of facts, in plain English, this 
work is offered, and as such should be judged; that, 
and nothing more. 

It is but fair to the author to add that every line 
was written in the heat of the past St. L,ouis summer 
and fall, after long and unremitting days' duties on a 
city newspaper's staff. 

It is hoped, however, that not too often it may 
appear to be the work of a tired man. 

St. Louis, Nov., 1897. 



INTRODUCTION. 



This is the plain record of the life and works of 
one who was a fatherless boy, earning his food and 
garret bed when eight years old; of a needy youth 
who secured his college education ' 'by the sweat of 
his brow," and who lived at times, literally, on bread 
and water while a student; of an unknown minister, 
poor and without influence, who won his way among 
strangers solely on his worth, and who came through 
crucial tests in the troublous times of the 60's such 
as this generation wots not of. 

And then it tells of a city pastor, for thirty-nine 
years the head of a large St. I^ouis church; and of 
an author of a score of books (one read in five lan- 
guages); and the editor of a widely-known magazine. 

And then it tries to picture the every-day life of 
the man; whose intellectual and moral stature was 
like that of his physical — head-and-shoulders above 
the rank and file of us. 

With middle age came world-wide fame to this 
Bible scholar, preacher and author. 

Old age drew on, and crowned with richer hon- 
ors the head of the soldier who had fought the good 
fight. 

And then, on Easter Sunday, 1897, at sunrise — 
peacefully as a tired infant in its mother's arms — he 
fell asleep. 



"The Child is Father of 
the Man." 



CHAPTER I. 



THE "FATHER OF THE MAN." 

he early life of James Hall Brookes re- 
minds one of the opening pages of some 
old-fashioned book of romance. 
He had in him the recognized character- 
istics of the self-made hero of a work of fiction. 
A strikingly handsome lad, strong and of 
magnificent physique, he entered the lists in 
the contest of life alone, unaided — and he won. 

Throughout this early life, as later days 
have proven, "the child," indeed, "is father of 
the man." 



The little town of Pulaski, Tennessee, 
was the birthplace of James H. Brookes. The 
27th of February, 1830, was his natal day. 
He was the son of Rev. James H. Brookes, 
Sr., and Judith Smith Lacy Brookes. His 
father was born in North Carolina; his mother's 
home was Prince Edward County, Virginia. 

11 




12 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



He was in the line of Presbyterian and 
ministerial descent, and came of an ancestry to 
be proud of, on both maternal and paternal 
sides, though he disliked to hear any one 
boast of kin, and never did so himself. His 
mother's father, Rev. Dr. Drury Lacy, was a 
well-known Virginia Presbyterian. His grand- 
father, John Ward Brookes, was a Methodist 
layman, who had taken for his wife that staunch 
Presbyterian lass, Margaret Houston, of Edin- 
burgh, Scotland. 

James H. Brookes, Sr., was educated at 
old Hampton Sidney College, of which his 
noted father-in-law, Dr. Lacy, had been an 
honored president. He received his theologi- 
cal training at Union Seminary of that State, 
and his first charge was in Virginia. 

A short time before the birth of his famous 
son, he had become pastor of the Presbyterian 
church of Pulaski, Tennessee. This town is 
in a beautiful section of the State, a region of 
rolling plateaus. Here was one of the strong- 
est Presbyterian congregations of its southern- 
central portion. In that spot young James 
Brookes passed his infancy and early years. 

Dr. Brookes, the father, was an honored 
missionary servant of the Presbyterian General 
Assembly, and did much to establish and nur. 



THK "FATHER OF THF MAN." 



13 



ture new churches. In 183 1 he was request- 
ed to leave Pulaski, for a short time, to or- 
ganize and take charge of a new Presbyterian 
church in Cincinnati. He labored in that 
city for two years, but the climate not agree- 
ing with his wife, the family returned to 
Pulaski. 

The pastorate there had not been dis- 
solved. In the interim, Rev. W. S. Lacy, a 
brother-in-law, had filled the absent pastor's 
pulpit. The work was again taken up in 
Pulaski, but it was destined soon to be ended 
for all time. 

The faithful minister died suddenly "in 
harness/' in June of 1833, from cholera. That 
dread disease was then epidemic in the 
vicinity. 

On his last Sunday on earth, Dr. Brookes, 
Sr., had preached three times, and then had 
gone to minister to parishioners sick of the 
malady. From them he took the fatal sick- 
ness, and died, after an illness of about eight 
hours. 

James Hall Brookes, the son, was then 
three years old. 

His mother had been bequeathed many 
slaves by her father, but these her husband, 
with her full consent, had set free, before he 



14 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



had removed to Cincinnati. The reason for 
this general manumission was two-fold. 
First, Dr. Brookes had always held views 
which were considered outre concerning slave- 
holding; he never thoroughly approved of it, 
though a bred-in-the-bone Southern gentle- 
man. And, second, he knew it was impossible 
to take his slaves to the modest Cincinnati 
parsonage. 

There were two courses before him: he 
must sell his slaves, or rent their services. 

The first was utterly abhorrent to him, and 
not considered for a moment; and his exper- 
ience with the latter custom had disgusted him; 
(a female slave of his was once hired out and 
came home with marks of cruel beatings on her 
person.) So he cut the Gordian knot by free- 
ing them all. 

But he did not turn them loose as helpless 
children; money was provided to care for them 
all, for at least a year. One old "aunty" posi- 
tively declined to be "free," and on the return 
of the family to Pulaski attached herself to the 
household for life. 

THE FATHERLESS LAD. 

The loss of the husband and father left 
the widow in very straightened circumstances. 
When her son James was eight years old 



THE ' ' FATHER OF THE MAN." 



15 



he became a semi-member of the family of a 
friend, a retired judge, who had turned farmer. 

This man, who had been an elder in Dr. 
Brookes' church, offered to take James to his 
farm, about a hundred miles distant, and give 
him a home, with a chance to study, in return 
for what he could do. 

His treatment there was no doubt well 
meant, yet it was anything but what he had been 
accustomed to. His bed-room was a corner 
of a dark garret. There he sobbed himself to 
sleep — for he was but a child and missed his 
dear mother sorely — on the first night in the 
new "home." 

(As soon as his mother learned of his sur 
roundings there, a year later, — for he was too 
brave to complain, — she sent for him.) 

On this farm James had fixed tasks to 
perform, and fully earned his daily bread and 
garret couch. But he also had time for study. 

A long stage-coach journey had been 
necessary to reach the new home. On the way, 
alone, the boy met a man who was destined to 
play an important part in his life. That man, 
later, became Governor Neil Brown, of 
Tennessee. At the time of the lonely journey 
on the stage coach, he took a great fancy to 



16 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



the brave youngster who was beginning so 
early to solve life's problems. 

So, at eight years of age, our hero — for he 
was a hero — began to support himself. Even 
in old age, Dr. Brookes could not forget that 
pitiful first night. So great was his loneliness 
during those times, he used to say, that he 
finally begged one of the young slaves about 
the place to share the garret with him, 

Do we not again see the likeness to the 
opening chapter of some hero of romance? 
There seems to be no element lacking. And 
yet this is simply an exact statement of the 
facts of his life, and in no way the play of 
fancy. 

THE DRY GOODS CLERK. 

When twelve years old he was an errand 
boy and under clerk in a general store. In 
later life Dr. Brookes enjoyed telling of his 
first experience in selling calico. 

A lady came in to buy some of that cloth, 
and while he waited upon her she asked if 
the colors were "fast." 

"Wait till I go and ask/' was the young 
clerk's reply. He went to the proprietor's 
son with the query. 

"Yes, of course," was the quick response, 
which James promptly repeated. 



THE "FATHER OF THE MAN." 



17 



The goods were wrapped up and the 
purchaser was just passing out, when the 
aforesaid son added, with a laugh: "Yes, the 
colors are fast — fast fading." 

The customer had not heard, but young 
Brookes had. Shocked and indignant, he rush- 
ed after the retreating buyer, much to the dis- 
gust of the aforesaid son, and made known the 
truth. 

The "errand boy" evidently made the 
best possible use of his limited facilities for 
learning. While under fourteen years of age, 
Governor Neil Brown, of Tennessee, (who 
had shared that stage-coach ride,) selected him 
as eligible for an appointment to the United 
States Military Academy at West Point. 

But his mother's heart was set upon his 
becoming a minister, and she persuaded him, 
much against his will at first, to give up the 
idea of the military career which had fascinated 
his young mind. For some time after this he 
was very despondent. 

This Governor Brown had been a great 
admirer of Dr. Brookes, Sr. Some time later 
he freely offered James a home with him, and 
an education, both free of any expense to the 
mother, or to her son. But the kind offer was 
declined, much as the education was longed 



18 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



for, and sadly as the means to obtain it were 
lacking. The young man could not bring 
himself to accept such aid when he had a fight- 
ing and working chance to pay his own way 
through college. He fully intended to plunge 
through the swift rapids of life in his own 
canoe; or his own raft, if he could not afford 
the first craft. 

When about fifteen years old, he entered 
the Academy at Ashewood, Tennessee. His 
preparation had been chiefly by his own efforts, 
amply stimulated by his mother, a woman of 
exceptional ability, sweetness and strength of 
character. She did much of the teaching her- 
self; and her pupil was an extraordinarily apt 
one. 

Ashewood was a veritable "nest of Pres- 
byterianism," with a strong church and denomi- 
national school of high standing in that region. 

Young Brookes had been a pupil there 
but a short time when the news of a dangerous 
illness which had befallen him brought sorrow 
to the Pulaski home. The mother hastened 
to his side and nursed him back to health. An 
incident in connection with that sickness be- 
came a piece of family history. 

THE OLD SLAVE'S REMARKABLE PROPHECY. 

At the time of the manumission of the 



THK "FATHER OF THK MAN." 



19 



family slaves, one of them, old "Mammy 
Hannah," referred to before, the devoted 
guardian of the children, had positively declin- 
ed to accept the proffered freedom, and had 
announced her unalterable intention of living 
and dying as their nurse. 

The faithful old servant was bowed in 
sorrow at the tidings of the severe illness of 
"Young Marser Jeems," at the Ashewood 
Academy. 

She helped to nurse him with untiring de- 
votion through his dangerous illness. Once, 
when her place at his bedside was pre-empted, 
the old negress took herself to the woods, 
where she spent the entire night in prayer for 
the recovery of her young master. She re- 
turned calm, hopeful, and positively assured 
that he would recover. 

"Ah's seen a vishun in de woods," she 
declared; and nothing could shake her belief. 

"Ah wrestled all de nite in prar, and de 
good Lord dun hear dis ole nigger, sho\ 

"He shown me Marser Jeems a-standin' 
in a pulpet a-preachin' de everlasten Gospel." 

Her young master at that time had 
planned to be a soldier — or anything but a 
preacher. He was no canting, impossible 
Sunday-school book prodigy, who is too good 



20 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



for this earth; and fortunately, generally dies 
in the last chapter. He told her that "it must 
have been some other fellow you saw standing 
in that pulpit." But the more earnestly did 
she insist on the truth of her "vishun." And 
time soon bore her out. 

JAMES II . BROOKES, SCHOOLMASTER. 

At the age of sixteen the young man be- 
came a molder of the minds of the young in a 
country school, about two miles from Pulaski. 
Some of his pupils were older than himself; 
most of them were of his own age. 

He walked to and from his scene of duty. 
It was before the day of the "little red school 
house" and the public school teachers. It was 
his own school, and every cent of his meagre 
emolument per capita that could be spared, 
was religiously laid aside towards his college 
education. 

He taught there until he was eighteen 
years old. At the close of his teaching exper- 
iences he was employed as a census-taker, 
and at that odd occupation doubtless delved 
deeply into the book of human nature. 

All this time he was preparing himself for 
college. Time was passing, he recognized, so 
he must "catch up," by entering Junior instead 
of Freshman year. This, we will find, he did. 



The Youth. 



CHAPTER II. 



THE YOUTH. 

ost fortunately, there have been found 
two old diaries kept by Dr. Brookes 
when a youth. The earliest of these 
begins on Feb. 26, 1849. 

These records give a remarkable insight 
into his environments — spiritual, mental and 
mundane. 

There should be noted, first, the dark 
background of family bereavement in the death 
of his father, and beloved older brother, John. 
Then came financial and other sorrows in the 
home. The young mind was early forced 
into a serious mould. 

The high hopes and earnest endeavors 
to secure the longed-for collegiate training is 
touchingly shown; the practical question of 
ways and means; the pride and sensitiveness 
of the poor young student; the alternations of 
hope and fear. A few lines here, and there, 

23 




24 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR, 



point out the complete picture for the careful 
reader of these selections which follow. 

Dr. Brookes rarely spoke of himself, 
either in youth, middle age, or towards his 
latter end. But to these diary pages he con- 
fided much. It is, indeed, fortunate that they 
have lately been found. These selections 
well supplement the brief outline sketch of his 
early days which has preceded. 

Quotations from the diaries follow: 

' 'February 27, 1849. 

*'* * The history of our family has been a 
strange one. Though a family walking in the 
ordinances of the Lord, not many temporal 
blessings have attended them. Father was 
cut off in the vigor of life, in the very midst 
of his usefulness. Then my brother, just in 
the act of attaining the object of his hopes, of 
mother's prayers, to follow in the footsteps of 
father in proclaiming God's will to man. * * 

" Mother's life has been a continued scene 
of trials and sorrow. And time, instead of 
smoothing her pathway to the grave, has only 
heaped higher the troubles before her * * 
but 'whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth.' 
* * He intends putting our faith to the test, 



THE YOUTH. 



25 



trying its strength on the fierce conflicts, that 
the path to glory shall not be strewn with 
flowers." 

"Tuesday nighty February 1849. — My 

nineteenth birthday has come. To this 
day I have been looking forward with feelings 
of peculiar interest. Whenever, within the 
past two months, I have beheld its sure and 
swift approach, it has been with unavoidable 
sadness and bitter regret that I have lived so 
long, yet to such little purpose. * * With my 
poverty, my only hope of rising to any emi- 
nence in the scale of intellectual existence de- 
pends on my single exertions; and the loud 
calls from the family are before me. * * 

''With what careless indifference have I 
let golden opportunities slip. * * Others 
have labored under circumstances equally un- 
favorable and have triumphed by their own 
unaided exertions. * * But especially have I 
regarded this day with feelings of deep interest 
on account of things of a spiritual nature con- 
nected with it." 

In the next entry the kind offer of the 
Governor of Tennessee to educate him is 
recorded. The struggle which follows, and 
the determination not to put himself under any 
such obligations, is vividly set forth. 



26 



JAMKS H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



" March 22,— This has been a week more 
full of joy to me than usual. Doubtless the 
cause is partly owing to a piece of intelligence 
I received. * * It was the kind offer of Gov. 
Brown for me to reside with him in Nashville, 
and go to College. College life I have so 
earnestly longed for * * the road to high 
usefulness and honor that I had thought 
blocked with almost unsurmountable difficulties 
is made smooth. * * 

4 'It was a most strong temptation to lay 
aside my foolish independence. I had almost 
yielded, but the almost sure prospect of making 
money sufficient to bear me through College, 
by taking the census, next year, decided me. 
I had much rather labor a little longer and a 
little harder, and be the builder, by God's 
help, of my own fortune. * * 

"But this news caused emotions I never 
felt before. * * How merciful, how full of 
loving kindness my Heavenly Father has been 
to me." 

k ' Tuesday night, March 28.— * * My Chris- 
tian energy and devotion were more aroused 
by reading at home, last Sabbath, the bio- 
graphy of James B. Taylor, than for some 
time. What an example is here of piety, what 
Paul-like fervor! 



THE YOUTH. 



27 



"A man whose ideas are absolutely in one 
pervading idea, whose heart's best affections 
gush out in one powerful, onward, ceaseless 
flow, bearing on his bosom the cause of his 
Master. What proof here of the divinity of 
our religion." 

"April i2.— k * Would that I felt a deeper 
interest in these friends who are still 'without 
God in the world.' " 

Here is shown an insight into fierce 
spiritual battles, which had to be fought, and 
won. It is because Dr. Brookes had been as- 
sailed by doubts in youth, that he was such a 
grand leader of young men's gatherings. He 
knew their spiritual experiences. 

"April 26. — Assailed by unbelief more 
fiercely and constantly than usual. The 
tempter has been trying to persuade me that 
religion is a principle of our natures, as ex- 
hibited in the worship of the most savage men; 
and that the Christian religion is but a sub- 
limer superstition; the invisibility and mystery 
of our Deity making Him more awful than the 
ridiculous objects of heathen adoration. 

"The tempter is continually whispering 
such doubts in my ear. Were it not for the 
hope that when my perseverance is tested and 
T faint not,' the clouds will be rifted and the 



28 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



*Sun of Righteousness' will illumine my path, I 
would give up in despair. * *" 

"I fight daily with 'this desperately wick- 
ed' heart. May the time be hastened, and 
may I hold out until the 'end.' " 

Then there must have followed another 
struggle as to the acceptance of the kind offer 
of the friend of his father, Governor Brown. 
He evidently came to the conclusion that he 
made a mistake in refusing it — though, a little 
later, we will see that the offer in question 
never was accepted, 

"April 26. — Have written to Gov. Brown 
again, thanking him for his noble offer, and ac- 
cepting it. I am anxiously awaiting the ar- 
rival of his letter which will finally determine 
me how to act. I hope that the Lord will, if 
it be in accordance with His pleasure, * * 
make use of me as an instrument to do His 
purposes." 

Here we see an expression of despon- 
dency in the yearning hope of that college 
education: 

"May j. — Got my letter from Gov. Brown. 
I was disappointed. Instead of a light steadily 
fixed in the future, which I so earnestly long- 
ed for, my mind is prey to the same gloom and 
uncertainty. After all, I may not get to College." 



THE YOUTH. 



29 



But— joy came with the morning, soon: 
' 'May 14. — How manifold are the mercies 
of God. He seems to have granted me every 
opportunity I could wish, to obtain the object 
of my desires— to bear me on with scarcely a 
struggle. 

"In fact, so many ways are opened to me 
I do not know which to enter. On Saturday 
I was offered a situation in the Male Academy. 
And another, still better, offer comes to me; 
one in which I can make much more money — 
decidedly preferable to my present situation 
in every respect, perhaps. 

' 'So God may have some work for me to do. 
* * May it awaken a deeper gratitude and 
love." 

Here the dominie rejoices that his salary 
is to be raised to the princely sum of $170 a 
term — of which he hopes to save $160! 

"May 16. — * * My friends are unwilling 
that I should leave this neighborhood. They 
have at once raised my salary surprisingly. It 
is now increased to $170; and these generous 
friends only charging me $10 board for next 
session, it will leave me $ 160. * * 

"It is, and has long been, evident tome 
that God was and is specially directing my 
ways. * * How else can I so have succeed- 



30 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



ed ? I know how deficient I was in education 
and in almost every other quality requisite for 
the schoolmaster, yet I have astonished my- 
self. 

"Here lies the secret: / asked God's assist- 
ance and He granted it. ' ' 

The melody turns to minor, again: 
"Friday noon, June i— This, to me, is one 
of the saddest days imaginable. * * In the 
distance is just visible my birth-place, the 
home of my joyous childhood, over which so 
many sad, most sad changes have come. * * 
But I should cast the feeling off. It is not 
manly." 

[And manliness was his key-note through- 
out life.] 

A tender tribute to his father is here 

paid: 

"June 8. — Sixteen years ago to-day my 
father died. Though I have no recollection 
of him, I have been taught to cherish a sacred 
love for my departed father, and have often 
deeply regretted that memory would not bring 
up the faintest look or action of his." 

School is almost "out," we see, and the 
youthful master is soliloquizing over a very 
successful ten months' session. Evidently he 
had the farmers' boys well in hand, and could 



THE YOUTH. 



31 



doubtless "lick" them in a bunch, if necessary: 
"June 14. — One day more and my labors 
for this session are over. How anxiously I 
have looked forward to this time. For ten 
months have I toiled. I know if I had been 
left to my own unaided exertions I should 
have failed. * * 

"In all this time no serious difficulty 
has occurred, and I have been enabled to go 
forward." 

And now another term begins. He is 
delighted over an attendance of thirty-three: 

"July j, 1849. — I began school again yes- 
terday, under circumstances peculiarly flatter- 
ing. My school already numbers thirty-three 
— nearly twice as many as I had the whole of 
last session — and doubtless will increase. * * 
I know I am under His guidance in every 
action, but it has struck me that He has es- 
pecially upheld me in my school." 

1850's RECORD. 

It is easy to trace the maturer mind and 
the firmer chirography in the new diary of 
1850, selections of which are now given. The 
first entry of the new year shows deep fervor 
of spirit: 

"First Sabbath night of 1850.— \ have been 
engaged all evening in reading the 'Memoir 



32 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



of the Rev. Robert McCheyne.' What a 
noble, enviable man was he. Filled full of 
love to Christ — his only desire seemed to 
be to glorify Him — his highest ambition to do 
good. How peaceful and joyous his life, how 
calm and triumphant his death. Oh ! that I 
were like him. Reading the history of his 
burning love and devotedness to the Saviour 
discovers to me more clearly my own coldness, 
deadness and worthlessness. 

1 'Would that I were filled more with zeal; 
would that it were the one great purpose of 
my life, my chiefest aim, to labor unceasingly 
for my blessed Master. I thought of the 
mercies of God unto me, His wonderful good- 
ness, His continual kindness and how little I 
had done to repay them; how ungrateful and 
useless I had been; and I there besought Him 
to make me more diligent in His service, more 
holy, more useful, more devoted to Christ. 

"Here would I renew my petition, be- 
seeching God that it may be done in a proper 
spirit. My Father Who art in heaven ! 
How good, how merciful, how forbearing hast 
Thou been unto me ! Unworthy as I am, 
Thou hast ever been mindful of me, visiting 
me in loving kindness, surrounding me with 



THE YOUTH. 



33 



Thy parental protection. Day after day and 
night after night show forth Thy goodness. 

<<* * Accept this unworthy consecration 
of myself to Thee for this year and for life. 
May I do some good each day; may I grow 
much in grace and the knowledge of truth; 
use me to effect Thy holy purposes; give me 
entire submission to Thy will in all things, 
and after a life of great usefulness to men and 
of honor to Thee, receive me into Thy 
heavenly kingdom. I earnestly entreat for 
Christ's sake — Amen." 

"January 14, — To-day I again began my 
life of labor. Ah ! mostly it is a toilsome, sad 
life to me, but for all that it is a strengthening, 
pleasant, toilsomeness, a sweet sadness. Be- 
cause I feel that I am doing something, that I 
am living an earnest life, that I am laboring, 
actually working. * * 

4 'My life is not without its joys. I can 
leave the noisy gladsomeness of the school- 
boys, and seek my favorite woods; there amid 
the stillness of the deep forest — 'God's first 
temples' — I can commune with Him and hold 
converse with my own thoughts. 

"There the world with its trading, selfish- 
ness, money-making, is forgotten, and with 
the spirit elevated by the silent, sacred influ- 



34 



JAMBS H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



ences about me, I verily believe it lives for the 
time in a purer atmosphere." 

He pays high tribute to teachers here: 

"January 21. — Had a fair excuse to-day 
not to teach. Owing to the heavy rains the 
creeks was immensely swollen. The booming 
waters went surging by, threateningly; for half 
a mile my horse was in the water, sometimes 
nearly to his back, but I determined to go. 

"There is something strengthening to me 
in performing duty against inclination. I feel 
better. Have been reading 'The School and 
School Masters/ a most useful, practical book. 
I shall ever feel grateful to it for the instruc- 
tion and wise hints it gave me. 

"More and more am I convinced that 
next to a preacher of the Gospel, the teacher 
is living the noblest of all lives. His is the 
vastly important, but quiet, duty of laying the 
foundations of Society. ,, 

Here is a striking example of his char- 
acteristic independence: 

il January 28. — Met with some opposition 
to one of my rules of school on the part of 
one who intended sending to me. It annoyed 
and excited me considerably, during one day — 
damped my enthusiasm somewhat — but I have 
forgotten it now, Convinced by my own ex- 



THE YOUTH . 



35 



perience, and the observation of others, that I 
was pursuing decidedly the better plan, I de- 
termined to go calmly forward, independent of 
the wishes of one who has no conception of 
true education and its end. 

" Was up this morning an hour and a half 
before daylight, writing. I could not finish my 
letters before twelve o'clock Saturday night, 
and I thank God I had no disposition to vio- 
late His Sabbath by writing on yesterday. * * 

"February 4. — Read last week 'The Theory 
and Practice of Teaching,' by D. P. Page. 
The author is a man of high standing and long 
experience as a teacher, and though much of 
his theory is impracticable in our poor country 
schools, the book is a valuable assistant to the 
educator. 

4 'Heard on yesterday an unusually excel- 
lent sermon from Mr. Caldwell. It was one 
of his times to exhibit earnestness, eloquence, 
power. * * 

"February 77.— Had a pleasant time in 
school last week. All went smoothly, quietly. 
I am daily receiving tokens of God's goodness. 
Read during the week, 'Todds' Student 
Manual,' a book full of faithful advice and one 
I highly prize, for it showed to me many of my 



36 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



own faults and errors, the attempt to conquer 
which has already been of benefit to me. 

"Oh! that I were freer from imperfection! 
How miserably inferior I am morally and in- 
tellectually, to a true man, to what I might 
have been. Lord! teach me. Read last 
night the biography of Jonathan Edwards. 
He was a true man, a strong man, a 'proper 
man/ " 

And the young schoolmaster must have 
read that "true man, strong man, 'proper 
man,' " into his own life for all time. 



The Collegian. 



CHAPTER III. 



THE COLLEGIAN. 

oung Brookes started for Princeton college, 

but arrived at Miami University. 
Interesting is the history of the events 
which led up to that sudden change in his life 
plan. The hand of Providence can clearly be 
seen through it all. He was sent to Miami. 

There he met and loved the one woman 
who was meant to be his wife, and who, 
through their long, loving, ideal life together, 
was ever one with him in Christian service; 
his constant stimulus to the fulfillment of noble 
♦ purposes; who ever shielded him from petty 
cares; who made his interests paramount; and 
who received from him all through his married 
life the constantly expressed devotion of a 
youthful lover, coupled with the highest re- 
spect for her piety, her intellect, her attain- 
ments, and her splendid store of sound sense. 

39 




40 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



When the way at last was opened that 
led to the college door, the young man left 
Pulaski for the East, via Cincinnati. In his 
pocket he carried a letter of introduction to 
Rev. Dr. N. L. Rice, of that city. He had 
learned to greatly admire Dr. Rice, through 
reading his famed debate with Dr. Alexander 
Campbell, which had taken place some years 
before. 

(It is a striking coincidence that young 
Brookes, the ex-country school teacher, was 
destined, a few years later, to be the noted 
successor of this same Dr. Rice, in the pulpit 
of the Second Presbyterian church of St. Louis.) 

On his arrival in Cincinnati, Brookes 
learned that Dr. Rice was out of the city, but 
was expected soon to return. As he was anx- 
ious to meet the Doctor, he decided to wait a 
few days. 

HOW HE FOUND "A FRIEND IN NEED." 

While waiting, a peculiar incident occurred 
which the Dr. Brookes of later years never 
forgot. 

He was a total stranger in the city and 
was nobody's guest, save a hotel's. His ready 
money having run out, he went to a bank to 
cash a draft which represented about all of his 
worldly wealth. The cashier politely said that 
he must be identified. 



THE COIXEGIAN. 



41 



"But I don't know a soul in the city," re- 
plied Brookes. 

"Well, I'm very sorry, but I cannot cash 
your draft," was the response. 

Here was a predicament, surely. If Dr. 
Rice's return should be delayed a few days 
longer, what would he do? The hotel proprie- 
tor would not cash the draft. As he pondered, 
he walked about, seeking to find work of any 
kind to relieve his temporary needs, and con^ 
sidering ways and means. 

Suddenly, he glanced up and noticed a 
name over a store. It was an odd Jewish 
name, and seemed strangely familiar. 

The next moment Brookes was in that 
store, and its proprietor, with joyful counte- 
nance, was counting out gold for the face of the 
draft, and assuring him, meanwhile, that any- 
thing in sight which he wanted was his for the 
asking. 

"When my wife lay sick," said the mer- 
chant, "your mother was the only woman in 
the whole place who came to help her." 

"You can have anything there is in this 
store. I can never forget her kindness to my 
family — strangers in a far land." 

That Jewish family had come to Pulaski in 
Dr. Brookes' boyhood. They had met with a 



42 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



frigid reception and soon left. Pulaski, evi- 
dently, did not foster Jewish immigration. Only 
one person had shown the strangers any cour- 
tesy. That was the mother of the boy who 
was walking the streets of Cincinnati, wonder- 
ing how he could get that draft cashed; and 
what would happen if he could not. 

After the heartfelt welcome, scenes of his 
extreme youth flashed before his mind. He 
recalled the arrival of the Jewish family; how 
the children of the strangers were shunned by 
their schoolmates; of how indignant his mother 
was when he told her that the Jewish little 
ones were mistreated by the others. 

At that time was implanted firmly by his 
mother, the fact that the "Jews were God's 
people." She told him and his sister that they 
must be kind to the young strangers, and then 
she practiced what she preached, by going to 
see the new family herself. 

Those lessons were never forgotten. In 
later life Dr. Brookes was a strong ally of vari- 
ous Jewish Missions. He thoroughly believed 
in attempts to convert the Jews to the recep- 
tion of Christ as their Messiah. To his moth- 
er's precepts and practice that tendency can 
doubtless be traced. And in his study of the 



THE COLLEGIAN. 



43 



Scriptures, this feeling- was deepened to a pas- 
sion. 

And, verily, even in this world, her kind- 
ness to that Jew bore fruit. Her son might 
have carried off the contents of that Cincinnati 
store, had he desired to. 

STRANGE CITY SIGHTS. 

The strain on the exchequer having been 
lightened, the young man determined to see 
the sights. 

He had never traveled, and the first 
glimpse of the Ohio river awed him, he used 
to say. It was an ocean, almost, compared to 
his Tennessee rivers. 

The market, too, fascinated him. But he 
was astounded by the "ladies he saw there." 
He wrote home that he thought Cincinnati must 
have "the homeliest lot of women in the world!" 
The simple-hearted country lad had mistaken 
the stall-keepers for wives of prominent citi- 
zens! (At his home the "quality" ladies all 
went to market, with a colored boy and a bas- 
ket.) 

At length Dr. Rice returned. A pleas- 
ant interview was held. The minister at once 
took a deep interest in the young man — as 
did all who met the tall, remarkably handsome, 
intellectual-looking Tennesseean — and began 



44 JAMKS H. BROOKES : A MEMOIR. 



to strongly urge him to go to Miami Univer- 
sity at Oxford, Ohio, instead of Princeton. 
What arguments were used are not known. 
But the result was, that Brookes took the stage 
coach for Miami, "to look it over, anyhow/' 
before starting for the New Jersey seat of 
learning. 

The beautiful campus and the scholarly 
atmosphere of Miami, together with his pleas- 
ant reception from the President, Dr. W. C. 
Anderson, very favorably impressed him. He 
decided to secure there his longed-for, strug- 
gled-for, saved-for, and now finally opening 
college education. 

Another turning-point in the highway of 
his life had been reached. 

So thorough a preparation had the young 
student given himself, and so able was he, that 
he successfully passed an examination which 
admitted him at once to Junior year classes. 
Recognizing that time was short and that he 
had been "handicapped" — to borrow the one 
fitting word — by poverty and circumstances 
that would have long since discouraged others, 
he hastened matters. So he "experienced" 
Freshman and Sophomore years by means of 
examinations which occupied a few hours. 

Thus he "caught up" with time, and con- 



THK COIJyKGlAN. 



45 



quered circumstances. A lesson of encourage- 
ment to ambitious young men of all ages and 
countries is to be found in this plain statement 
of facts of the college career of the great man. 

He clearly recognized that he must "hus- 
band his resources," and live cheaply. As 
was often the custom in those early days, he 
began to "batch it," i. e., he cooked his own 
food— what little there was of it — and was 
his own housekeeper. 

Often he lived, literally, on bread and wa- 
ter. It was not his poverty alone that led to 
such a regimen, but partly through a natural 
dislike for culinary pursuits and the unpleasant 
"washing of dishes," which would necessarily 
follow. 

Finally, his splendid physique must have 
shown signs of his improper dietery. An in- 
fluential friend came to the student and made 
such a vehement argument against his contin- 
uing in that mode of life which was endanger- 
ing his constitution—and thereby his future 
usefulness — that some arrangement was soon 
made by which Brookes gave up his "batch- 
ing," and took his meals in the college refec- 
tory. 

There was, it is believed, one, only one 
(and the accent should be placed on "only,") 



46 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



attempt to "haze" the stalwart young South- 
erner. And a sorry "hazing-bee" was that. 
The conspirators were most decidedly hoisted 
by their own "petard." 

One night, while Brookes was studying in 
his room, two of the upper classmen unwisely 
decided to "haze" him. But the first thing 
they knew, he had their respective heads un- 
der his strong arms, and they were being 
dragged, protesting and kicking in vain, to the 
nearest pump. There, each was soused. 
Hazing operations on the new junior from 
Tennessee stopped then and there — according 
to all information obtainable — with a sudden 
jolt. 

Soon he met Miss Susan Oliver, the ex- 
ceptionally beautiful and gifted daughter of Dr. 
Oliver, a retired Ohio physician of prominence, 
who had removed to Oxford for the purpose 
of educating his children at the college and 
seminaries there. Providence seemed clearly 
to have brought this removal about. 

The decision as to whether the family 
should go to Cincinnati, or to Oxford, was 
practically left to Miss Susan, a ruling spirit in 
the household. Naturally, a young lady who 
had finished her education, and who, because of 
her remarkable beauty and gifts, might have 



THB COI^IvKGlAN. 



47 



shone in society circles of any city, anywhere, 
would have chosen to go to Cincinnati. Such 
a choice ninety nine young ladies out of a 
hundred, in similar circumstances, would have 
made. 

But she was the one-hundredth — then, as 
all through her life. With the rare unselfish- 
ness that has always sunk herself and her nat- 
ural inclinations, she urged her parents for 
the sake of the younger children (who could 
then be properly educated and at the same 
time enjoy their home) — to go to Oxford. 

And soon, no doubt, it might be added, 
she was very glad that she had made that de- 
cision. 

THE LOVERS MET. 

The first glimpse James H. Brookes had 
of the girl who was predestined to be Mrs. 
James H. Brookes, was under decidedly thrill- 
ing circumstances. 

A gentle stream had become, suddenly, a 
raging torrent, and through that stream Miss 
Oliver, an expert horsewoman, was riding. 
There was danger that the animal and its 
fair burden might any moment be swept away, 
but the young lady was bent upon fording 
that stream then and there^-and ford it she 
did. 



48 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



She knew it not, but near by a handsome 
collegian was watching her with intense inter- 
est. From that time she had an ardent suitor. 
A near relative of Miss Oliver's desired to 
know something of the young suitor's family, 
naturally. Told of it, the lover said: "Tell 
him that most of my ancestry have gone to 
the skies." 

a classmate's recollections. 

Rev. Dr. Thomas Fullerton, of Cincin- 
nati, a college classmate of Dr. Brookes', thus 
wrote under date of September i, 1897: 

"What I recall most readily of Brookes 
as he was forty-five years ago, is the mingling 
of elements in his nature which made him so 
dear to us. 

"What he was in after life he was in col- 
lege. 

"He was mature when he came to Ox- 
ford — I think the oldest man of our class ex- 
cept McMillan. He had passed through 
varied experiences, and knew human nature. 
He had some acquaintance with literature. (I 
wonder if he always delighted in Longfellow 
as he did in 1852!) His mind was active and 
vigorous. He was a model of manly strength 
and beauty. He was naturally eloquent. He 
had a rich humor. He did not laugh loud him- 



THE COLLEGIAN. 



49 



self, but liked to make others laugh till the 
halls rang. 

"I well remember some of his good stor- 
ies. I try at times to repeat them. But they 
are not droll on my lips, as they were on his. 

"He was a leader; 1 may say the leader 
of the college. No other man had such a fol- 
lowing. It was not because he sought to be 
the head. There was no trace in him of the 
school demagogue, nothing of a 'Steerforth' 
nature. (I may say in passing that I can recall 
his enjoyment of David Copperfield, which we 
read at the same time.) 

'*He was, I repeat, the leader of the col- 
lege. Yet, among his contemporaries were 
David Swing, Harmer Denny, Milton Saylor, 
Benjamin Harrison, and among the younger 
men Whitelaw Reid, Henry (now Chancellor) 
McCracken, and other brilliant stars. 

"It is scarcely worth while to give names 
from our own class. Alas! the most promis- 
ing among them were soon to be read on grave- 
stones: Hibben, Holmes, Lowe, Carson, 
McNair, Ustick, McNutt — how early they 
finished their race! We who linger, remember 
them with admiration, and shaking our grey 
heads say: Ah! if they had lived, the class of 



50 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



1853 would have been heard from! But 
Brookes led all these. 

"Not, perhaps, in scholarship, though he 
was a faithful student. But in the gifts which 
make men forces and foremost He was our 
Captain and we were proud of him. 

"The more so, because he was a man of 
God. The man of God is himself humble. 
But others may be proud of him with thank- 
ful glorying. Brookes' piety was deep. No 
one would have dared to whisper a doubt of it. 
There was no cant in him. At times despon- 
dent — a remarkable thing in one so sane in 
mind and body — he never put on a long face 
for appearance sake; never spoke unreal 
words." 



At Princeton Seminary. 



Dr. Brookes as a Young Man. 

{Reproduced from an old Daguerreotype.) 



CHAPTER IV. 
AT PRINCETON SEMINARY. 



ames H. Brookes, B. A., arrived at Prince- 



ton Seminary with ninety-six cents in 



his pocket. But he was there to com- 
plete his theological training — the call "woe is 
me if I preach not the Gospel" ringing in his 
ears — and finish it he did. 

He secured a loan of fifty dollars from a 
relative in Baltimore, and proceeded to fit up 
his room — with a five dollar bill. (He was 
never an aid-receiver from any individual or 
any Church Board of Education.) 

He secured a room, in the basement of 
one of the dormitories, so undesirable as to be 
given free to needy students. It was a sec- 
tion fittingly dubbed "The Tombs." With 
the five dollar bill mentioned he bought some 
meagre second-hand furniture. Then he se- 
cured board in the refectory. 

Between the unhealthy bed room and a 
limited dietary, Brookes was metamorphosed 




54 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



from a sturdy, ruddy young giant into a pale, 
wasted cleric; and all in a few months. But 
for the kind ministrations of a quaint old negro 
woman, "Aunt Betsey, " who forced upon him 
many a basket of good food, daintily prepared, 
he used to say that he could hardly have lived 
through those few months in New Jersey. 

He came to know "Aunt Betsey" through 
a Sunday-school for negroes, which he imme- 
diately sought out and thereafter regularly 
taught in. He "understood" negroes, and 
they loved him, there, at Oxford, St. Louis 
and everywhere else. This "Aunty" referred 
to was a character, and deserves mention in 
view of what she did for Dr. Brookes. She 
was very intelligent and had spent much of 
her life as a missionary in the Sandwich 
Islands. She had been a slave of Admiral 
Stockton's. Dr. Brookes always said that she 
"saved his life," and her picture was carefully 
preserved in his study. 

HIS MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY. 

In connection with the foregoing refer- 
ence to his labors among the Princeton negroes, 
a fellow seminary student, Rev. Dr. R. C. 
Galbraith, of Chillicothe, Ohio, wrote in Sep- 
tember, 1897, for this book, a very amusing bit 
of memorabilia, which is here quoted: 



AT PRINCETON SKMINARY. 



55 



"When he went to Princeton the student 
who had been looking after the Sunday-school 
in the colored Presbyterian Church had not 
yet arrived, and by some lucky happening 
Brookes was invited to superintend the school 
and preach to the congregation, on the first 
Sunday after his arrival. 

"In the school a little boy was making 
some confusion when Mr. Brookes said, 'Boy, 
you must behave yourself, or I'll spank you!' 

"This was amusing to the boy, and to the 
whole school; such a thing as spanking a boy 
in Sunday-school being an unheard-of thing. 

"The boy grew more demonstrative and 
Mr. Brookes walked down, turned him over 
his knee and convinced the whole school that 
he had meant what he said. He certainly did 
what he had threatened. 

"After school he preached, and captured 
the congregation with the sermon, as he had 
the school boy with the spanking, and so long 
as he remained at Princeton, the colored peo- 
ple wanted no other preacher. 

"As we know, he proved when he went 
out to work that he could as easily interest and 
profit men of vastly greater culture and promi- 
nence. He was a good steward of the mani- 



56 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



fold grace of God, — 'a householder bringing 
forth out of his treasure things new and old.' " 

In the Junior year at Miami, Mr. Brookes 
began his theological training by combining 
his college work with the regular course at the 
United Presbyterian Seminary at Oxford. He 
was abundantly able to do the double work. 
Dr. Claybaugh, the professor who chiefly in- 
structed him, was considered one of the finest 
scholars in his church. 

He spent the greater part of the summer's 
vacation following his graduation, at Prince- 
ton; going there a few weeks after receiving 
his degree. A short summer trip intervened; 
a trip which cost much more than was antici- 
pated, and which led up to the ninety-six cents 
condition of things. 

Of his daily life at Princeton, his favorite 
studies, his friends, his mode of recreation; of 
all such there is, unfortunately, no record at 
hand. But it is the man we are studying, 
and from his own lips are recorded events of 
those days which show clearly the under-strata 
of his make-up; inclinations, feelings and sen- 
timents which can be traced out in later years 
of Christian activity. 



AT PRINCETON SEMINARY. 



57 



HIS VIEWS ON STUDENT AID. 

Brookes had a friend at the Seminary who 
was always exceptionally well dressed, and the 
occupant of a luxurious room. The young 
Tennesseean naturally supposed his friend to be 
the scion of some wealthy family, judging from 
the appearance of things. 

This supposedly wealthy young man re- 
monstrated, one day, concerning Brookes' cel- 
lar-like room. 

"Why don't you have a better room than 
this?" inquired the friend. 

"It is as good a room as I can afford," 
answered Brookes. 

"Then why don't you ask the Board of 
Education for aid? They give me help." 

Brookes was dumbfounded. It was the 
Board, then, that helped to pay for those natty 
clothes, and that handsomely-furnished room. 

"I intend to go through on my own re- 
sources," replied Brookes, "or I won't go 
through at all." This was said frankly, but 
with no criticism of the views of the other. He 
then went on to explain his ideas on "student 
aid." 

He believed that the student of push and 
"gumption" would find a way, as he did; if the 
way seemed too hard to find, and the student 



58 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



was unwilling to toil for an education to fit him 
for the ministry, then the church would be 
the better off without the services of such a 
man. 

He recognized that there were excep- 
tions, of course; and he would not quarrel 
with any one who gave aid or took aid. But, 
on principle, he was against student aid. 

He was often an outspoken critic against 
the luxury of too many of the American Theo- 
logical seminaries. He held that they did not 
train men to battle in struggling fields. Un- 
questionably, his Princeton experiences led to 
that belief. Yet in the kindness of his heart 
he could wish no theologue to be driven to a 
basement room. It was the happy mean he 
advocated. 

In this belief he has been upheld by many 
ministers and laymen. There is, today, a cry 
that the seminary graduates hang back, in too 
many instances, from the hard pioneer posts. 
They want established churches. The style 
of seminary living, these critics assert, has 
much to do with such a state of things. Dr. 
Brookes simply antedated, by many years, such 
in their views. 

He also held that the Theological semi- 
naries did not make enough of the English 



AT PRINCETON SEMINARY. 



59 



Bible. He, the English Bible's Champion, 
often spoke out and spared not when discuss- 
ing that point. He said the average seminary 
graduate "knew too much about the Bible, but 
not enough of the Bible." He may not always 
have pleased men in so speaking. But that 
made not the most infinitesimal difference to 
him. He was speaking his convictions. 

To revert to the subject of student aid, it 
can be truthfully said, that all young Brookes 
needed to do was to make a simple request to 
the Board, and aid would have been forthcom- 
ing. He really needed help. His poverty, 
and mean quarters, almost ruined his health. 
His was certainly one of those exceptionally 
deserving cases. But he fought it out alone 
for ten months in "The Tombs," and paid 
that borrowed $50 back, out of the first quar- 
ter's salary as a settled pastor. 

By the fellow seminary student, already 
quoted in this chapter, the following testimony 
was written: 

"James H. Brookes was an independent, 
generous, noble, high-minded gentleman, with 
manners so naturally easy, and with such 
kindly feeling, that I was attracted to him at 
once, and found it a most easy lesson to learn 
to love him. 



60 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



"He hated all pretense and sham; saw most 
clearly what he did see; was very certain that 
he was right. Often, to hear him speak of 
those who did not agree with him, one might 
suppose him harsh and unloving. But those 
that knew him well did know that, having the 
strength of a man, he had also the tenderness 
and love of a woman; a love that drew him to 
his friends and held him to them even though 
he might know much of their unworthiness. 
They were his friends, and that made atone- 
ment for much. He stuck to them through 
evil or good report. 

"He was impulsive in thought and action; a 
friend of the poor, a helper of the oppressed; 
ready to work where he saw that work was 
needed, and in such cheerful, hearty manner, 
that the most suspicious could see no trace of 
condescension on his part, or ever thought of 
accusing him of a patronizing air." 

THE YOUNG ICONOCLAST. 

While at the seminary he stormed in- 
wardly against the cut of the , average theo- 
logue's coat; his white necktie; his "holy tone." 

All that smacked ofchurchly professional- 
ism he loathed. As a relief, he frequently 
stuck his trowsers into his boots and paraded Princeton 's 



AT PRINCETON SEMINARY. 



61 



streets. (His own words are the authority for 
this statement.) 

That was his silent protest against embry- 
onic clericalism. 

How he must have shocked some of 
those dapper little theologues! They doubtless 
pointed a finger of scorn at the brusque young 
Southerner, and shaking their locks over him, 
predicted his dire end. 

But what of the record of that Southerner 
they criticised? 

It is easy to trace the dislike which Dr. 
Brookes always had, and always showed, for 
ministerial uniforms and clerical "favors," back 
to those days. Others might use all such; 
many of his respected confreres did so. He 
did not judge them. But as for him — he was 
through life the Tennesseean who tucked his 
trowsers into his boots, for a protest. 

And it was, in part, because he was such 
a man among men, that he had the tremendous 
influence he did over "all sorts and conditions" 
of them. There can be no question as to that. 
The farmer, the dry goods clerk, the school 
teacher, the census-taker — Dr. Brookes had 
worked faithfully as each. He had been a 
graduate in the College of Life and sat in 
many of its post-graduate classes, A profound 



62 



JAMKS H. BROOKKS: A MEMOIR. 



study of human nature had followed, of neces- 
sity. 

He did not look out on life, and the strug- 
gle in men's minds and souls, in the bland man- 
ner of the typical young scholastic who goes 
direct from his seven years of book study into 
his pulpit; then to learn, from bitter experi- 
ences often, to know men and things — if ever 
he does learn. 

Dr. Brookes had studied men first, and theol- 
ogy afterwards. 

And it might be said, in passing, that no 
one ever heard him deliver a "discourse" on 
the "nobility of man." His firm belief was 
that man was "a poor critter," to use the 
homely phrase. 

One day, in later life, a learned guest 
asked Dr. Brookes if he did not think that 
"self-esteem was a most noble attribute of the 
human mind?" 

"Do you really want to know what 1 think 
of self-esteem, and of man?" responded Dr. 
Brookes. 

"Yes." 

"Well, I'll tell you. I think man ought 
to have a third leg, to kick himself over Crea- 
tion with/' 



The Settled Pastor. 



CHAPTER V. 



THE SETTLED PASTOR. 
resident Anderson, of Miami University, 



brought the name of the young Timothy, 



James H. Brookes, before the session 
of the First Presbyterian Church of Dayton, 
Ohio, when the pulpit of it was vacant through 
the resignation of Rev. Dr. Gurley. A special 
meeting of the Presbytery was called to grant 
the necessary license to preach. 

He evidently pleased his Dayton hearers 
greatly, for, after two sermons, the young man 
received an unanimous call from that strong 
and influential church. 

He then gave a striking example of a 
noted characteristic: his power to quickly de- 
cide on a course of action. For, within one 
week, he was ordained, installed and — married. 
Miss Susan Oliver became Mrs. James H. 
Brookes, at her home in Oxford, on May 2, 
1854. The honeymoon was spent in Ten 




66 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



nessee. A month later, the young couple took 
up their life together at Dayton. 

The work of the young pastor, begun un- 
der such auspicious circumstances, was most 
successful. Soon every seat in the church 
auditorium was filled and there was a crying 
need for a larger building. Without seeking 
the slightest particle of publicity, the work of 
the preacher attracted attention from an ever- 
enlarging circle. 

FROM A FELLOW PASTOR, OF DAYTON. 

Rev. Dr. James S. Kemper, now in his 
83rd year, was a fellow pastor and neighbor of 
Dr. Brookes at Dayton. He moderated the 
congregational meeting of the First church, 
which unanimously called Dr. Brookes. 

A warm intimacy sprang up between them, 
which never cooled. Not long before Dr. 
Brookes' death, letters full of affection passed 
between them. Dr. Kemper had baptized the 
oldest daughter of his friend, Etta Olive 
Brookes, who died, a beautiful girl of rare 
promise, in her sixteenth year. 

Dr. Kemper has shown his kindly interest 
in this collection of memorabilia, by sending 
the following letter from Dayton. It is full of 
historical facts of interest; and it also paints a 
striking portrait of the young pastor. 



THE SETTLED PASTOR. 



67 



"In the winter and spring of 1854," writes 
Dr. Kemper, "Rev. P. D. Gurley, D. D., the 
able and beloved pastor of the First Presby- 
terian Church of Dayton, Ohio, after at first 
declining, eventually accepted a call and re- 
moved to Washington City. The best peo- 
ple he left in the church were in dismay. 
Many said their church was undone, and could 
never recover from its loss. 

"A young man from Pulaski, Tenn., had, 
the year before, pursued the studies of the 
Senior year in Miami University; at Oxford, 
Ohio, while studying theology under Dr. 
Claybaugh, a professor of theology there, in 
the United Presbyterian Seminary. On grad- 
uating, he had gone to Princeton Theological 
Seminary; had been there five months. He 
was heard of by the Dayton First Presbyterian 
Church, and was asked to visit and preach to 
the people, which he did. 

When — within two weeks after Dr. Gur- 
ley's removal — the congregation, and more or 
less the town, was saying the church's loss 
was irreparable, Mr. James H. Brookes was 
unanimously called to be the pastor, by the 
largest congregational meeting ever held in 
the church, and with the utmost enthusiasm. 

"The writer of these lines moderated the 



68 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



congregational meeting that voted the call, 
and knows; he is not writing on report, or at 
random. 

"The congregational attendance was 
materially increased from the start, and so con- 
tinued. Members of the Session, gray-haired 
men, who had become so in the eldership, were 
heard saying that they had secured a pastor 
'who was to be the first man in the church.' 

"The call was presented to Miami Pres- 
bytery in April, 1854, at Monroe, Ohio. By 
that body, it was presented to Mr. Brookes, 
already a licentiate, and accepted by him. He 
preached his trial sermon, was ordained, and 
arrangements were made which in due time 
culminated in his installment as pastor of the 
First, then the oldest and largest, Presbyterian 
church in Dayton. 

"Mr. Brookes was a positive man from 
the first, and a positive Presbyterian. He 
was earnest to win souls. As far as this writ- 
er knows, the harshest things he ever said in 
the pulpit were in impatience with obdurate 
neglecters of Jesus Christ and His Gospel. It 
is simple truth to say that he faithfully labored 
on in Dayton, honored and beloved, until 
1857; when, called to St. Louis, he was with 
sincere regret released. Since then, there 



THE SETTLED PASTOR. 



69 



has been his field, and others will tell of his 
work. His record is on high, and now he 
knows even as he is known. 

"His (probably) last photograph, sent by 
special solicitation, stands over the writer's 
desk; the same face known and loved for more 
than forty years." 

A PASTORAL INCIDENT. 

An interesting incident of the experience 
at Dayton naturally comes to mind here; it 
was an anecdote of the Dr. Brookes of later 
life. 

There had been some trivial trouble be- 
tween the volunteer choir and certain mem- 
bers of the congregation. Feelings had been 
sorely ruffled, and the choir — "struck," liter- 
ally. With woebegone faces came some of 
the church officers to their pastor's study for a 
"council of war." 

"Oh, is that all?" said he. "Then never 
mind. If the choir refuses to sing, I will lead 
myself!" 

And lead he did, the next Sunday, and 
thereafter, in clear, strong tones, till new choir 
arrangements were made. Some of the old- 
fashioned members said the singing had never 
been so hearty and so satisfactory to them as 
when the young pastor "led off." 



70 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



CALLED TO LOUISVILLE. 

It was to be expected that a city of Day- 
ton's size could not long hold James H. 
Brookes as its own. Very soon a flattering 
call from a large Presbyterian church of Louis- 
ville, Kentucky, came. 

A gainst the acceptance of this invitation 
the Dayton congregation arose in its might. 
Their pastor's announcement of the call to 
leave them, and his doubtful state of mind as 
to what was his duty, has fortunately been 
found. 

It shows clearly the remarkable growth of 
this first charge of the young pastor's; having 
every pew filled, and other worshipers seeking 
entrance. But it is, moreover, worthy of study 
as a striking presentation of the thoughts of a 
conscientious minister concerning a call to him, 
a settled, successful pastor, to become the 
head of another church. It might well have 
been published, years ago, as a " Treatise on 
Calls," to be read by all ministers and congre- 
gations. 

Selections from this pastoral letter of 
August 5, 1857, follow: 

''To the congregation of the First Presby- 
terian Church: 

"You have met to-day to decide the ques- 



THK SHTTLKD PASTOR. 



71 



tion, whether you will consent to the dissolu- 
tion of the relation now existing between us 
as pastor and people. 

"You not only have a right to your own 
opinions, as Presbyterians, and a right to ex- 
press those opinions freely; but you are re- 
sponsible to God, for the decision you now 
make, and you are under the most solemn 
obligations to view the whole matter simply 
and solely as a question of duty. I hold that 
no minister is justifiable in trampling down the 
affection, the hopes, and judgment of his peo- 
ple, in order to carry out his convictions of 
duty, unless those convictions are so clear and 
profound, that nothing whatever can change 
them; and unless it were a more manifest 
wrong to disobey his own sense of what he 
should do, than to come in conflict with their 
calm, thoughtful, well-matured views of what 
duty demands at his hands. 

"If circumstances are such that the argu- 
ments in favor of leaving a charge are over- 
whelming to his own mind, and if his people 
cannot place themselves in a position where 
they, too, may weigh the arguments — where 
the light he has cannot reach them — he is, of 
course, obliged to consult only his convictions. 
But if all, or most, of the facts in the case are 



72 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



within their reach, he is not a true Presby- 
terian if he ignores their right to call in ques- 
tion the correctness of his conclusion, or the 
propriety of his contemplated proceeding. 

"Light, free light, from the Throne of 
God, is what both parties should earnestly 
strive and pray to obtain. The people, under 
God, are the source of power and the final 
court of appeal in our Church, as much as they 
are in a Republican or Democratic civil gov- 
ernment. No spiritual despot can consult his 
own will, and require them silently to acquiesce 
in his decisions. No Presbyterian minister 
has breathed in the Spirit of his Church who 
will, except in the most extraordinary case, set 
up his own judgment as infallible and utterly 
beyond the influence of the feelings, the de- 
sires, and the opinions of his people. 

"No pastor has a right to ask a congrega- 
tion to consent to a dissolution of the relation 
existing between them on the ground, alone, 
that he so wishes it. He is bound to act with 
reference to the glory of Christ, the best inter- 
ests of His Kingdom and the good of souls, as 
these high ends appear to his mind; they are 
bound to act with the same grand objects, as 
they shall appear to their minds. 

"He is answerable, at the bar of God, for 



THE SETTLED PASTOR. 



73 



the conclusion to which he comes. They are 
answerable for the manner in which they treat 
those conclusions, and for their own convic- 
tions, whether they conflict with his or not — for 
their own decisions, whether they chime with 
his or not. 

4 ' What do the interests of Christ's King- 
dom demand of us, in our present posture? If 
you believe that those interests will be better 
secured by the removal of your pastor to 
Louisville, you must have the nobleness and 
Christian spirit to give him up, even if the sep- 
aration should painfully tear asunder precious 
ties, and wound bleeding, affectionate hearts. 
I have confidence in you to think that you will 
make the sacrifice, if need be, for Jesus' sake, 
and that your willingness to do what will ad- 
vance His Kingdom, shall call down upon you 
a blessing that will richly compensate for any 
pain you may feel in consenting to break up a 
mutually tender and pleasant relation. If, how- 
ever, you do not believe that my removal will 
be for the interest of the church, as a whole, 
you are under imperative obligation to say so, 
even if I desired to make the removal. But 
it is needless to assure you that I have no such 
desire in itself considered; that I have no wish 



74 



JAMES H. BROOKES: AMEMOIR. 



to leave you, save the wish that springs from 
a sense of duty. 

"Let me briefly lay the facts before you 
that have produced the conviction, in my mind, 
that I am called in the Providence of God to 
leave you, and labor in another part of His 
vineyard. 

"First, then, I have feared that my work 
here is almost done. I have reached almost 
all that I can hope to reach, without enlarged 
means of usefulness. Already fully one hun- 
dred families are crowded in some seventy 
pews, and, as the Trustees inform me, two- 
thirds of these pews are occupied by two, and 
very often by three, families. Room for other 
families that wish to attend our church, room 
for strangers, room to receive those who might 
with little effort be induced to put themselves 
within reach of the means of grace, room for 
God's poor, room for the perishing in the 
streets and lanes of the city, is exceedingly 
hard to obtain, if not almost wholly out of the 
question. 

"As a natural result of this state of things, 
the members of my church do not and cannot 
exert themselves to secure continued growth, 
to bring others within the sound of the Gospel, 



THE SETTLED PASTOR. 



75 



and to see to it that all the flock are gath- 
ered in. 

"That field is a large and important one. 
The room for growth is unlimited, and with 
God's blessing, we may reasonably expect im- 
mense good to be achieved by faithful labor. 

"Dayton has my heart, but the treasure 
seems to be in Louisville; and though our 
Savior says where the treasure is there will 
the heart be also, the heart, in this case, is in 
Louisville only for the souls that may there be 
brought to Jesus. Here I am hampered; there 
the Lord will bring me into a large place. 
Here I can hope to reach but few; there num- 
bers stand to be urged to the Cross. Here a 
little may be done; there much fruit may be 
expected as the result of diligent, prayerful 
effort. 

"Weigh the whole matter, my dear peo- 
ple, as a question of duty; inquire seriously and 
prayerfully what you and I owe to the church 
and to our Redeemer; and may God in His 
infinite mercy lead you to such a conclusion as 
shall promote the best interests of His King- 
dom and call down upon us His favor which is 
life, His loving kindness which is better than 
life. 

"Your affectionate Friend and Pastor, 

"James H. Brookes." 



76 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



THE CALL DECLINED. 

The Dayton church was thoroughly 
aroused and strongly resisted the call to Louis- 
ville. The matter was taken to Presbytery. 
Mr. Brookes told the representatives of his 
church there, very frankly, that he loved his 
Dayton charge, and desired nothing better 
than to remain as their pastor indefinitely; he 
reiterated that "his heart was in Dayton." 

But, with equal frankness, he pointed out 
that it was unfair to them, to him, and to the 
cause he labored for, to expect him to continue 
in the overcrowded building which practically 
barred out hew members. 

The fairness of his words appealed to all. 
No one could expect such a man to continue 
long in a church which was then so filled 
that further growth was impossible. What 
was practically a compact was then made. 
The representatives of the Dayton church at 
Presbytery said that if he would continue as 
their pastor, that they would enlarge the 
church, and give it a fair chance for future 
growth and extended influence. 

"Then," replied their pastor at once, "I 
will stay with you all the rest of my days." 

So the flattering call to the large city 



THE SETTLED PASTOR. 



77 



church was declined, and the work at Dayton 
went on with unabated zeal. 

But the second call to a larger field, which 
soon came, could not, under the circumstances, 
be declined. What these circumstances were, 
will be shown in another chapter. 



Called To St. Louis. 



CHAPTER VI. 



CALLED TO ST. LOUIS. 

he Second Presbyterian Church of St. 
Louis was, in 1857, without a pastor; 
Dr. Rice having accepted a call to 
Chicago. (This same Dr. Rice was the Cin- 
cinnati friend of James Brookes, the collegian.) 

The manner in which the name of Rev. 
James H. Brookes was brought before that 
church is an interesting bit of history. 

One of the pastoral committee of the 
church had taken a long pilgrimage to hear a 
certain noted preacher of that day. But he 
was not pleased, and so reported on his return 
to St. Louis. The congregation knew not 
exactly where to turn. 

It so happened, as we would say — -though 
Dr. Brookes would say, ''there are no happen- 
ings" — -that the father of one oL the elders of 
the present Washington and Compton Avenue 
Church, while en route from his Virginia home 
to St. Louis, had been obliged, against his 

81 




82 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



will, to stop off for a Sunday at Dayton, Ohio. 
He "happened" to enter Mr. Brookes' church, 
knowing absolutely nothing of him. 

The stranger was simply captivated. He 
brought such a glowing report to his son in St. 
Louis, that immediate plans were laid to have 
the remarkable young Dayton preacher come 
to St. Louis, "on trial," so to speak. 

A letter inviting Mr. Brookes to come and 
preach one Sunday, was sent. It was imme- 
diately declined. 

Later, when a proposed visit to his moth- 
er in Tennessee, was about to be made, a Sun- 
day stop at St. Louis was arranged for, after 
many urgent invitations. 

It was considered on neither side as "can- 
didating." Dr. Brookes never was a "can- 
didate" for any pulpit. In the following Jan- 
uary, the brief visit to the Second church was 
made. 

His preaching, his personality — every- 
thing, must have pleased the St. Louis congre- 
gation, for on February 15th, the unanimous 
call was sent. 

The steps which led to the prompt accep- 
tance of the call were simple. According to 
the Dayton church officers, the hard times had 
prevented the fulfillment of their plan for the 



CAIXED TO ST. I/)UIS. 



83 



necessary rebuilding of the church. It was 
on that hope that the call to Louisville had 
been declined. 

There seemed to be no immediate likeli- 
hood of any enlarging of the Dayton church, 
and he felt that the great field and wider 
opportunities which again were opened before 
him must not a second time, for merely per- 
sonal reasons, be disregarded. 

With kindest feeling toward the member- 
ship as individuals, he read his resignation 
from the pulpit, the following Sunday. 

M You need not oppose it/' he said; "I do 
not intend to remain. You have not fulfilled 
your pledge." 

THE FIRST PRAYER-MEETING. 

Dr. Brookes began his St. Louis pastor- 
ate informally, on a cold Wednesday night, 
February 18, 1858. 

From the train, he was taken at once to 
the home of Judge Gamble, an officer of his 
new church, where a warm welcome and many 
creature comforts awaited the "new minister. " 
From the comfortable home the energetic 
guest went, accompanied by his host, to the 
church to attend prayer-meeting. I hey were, 
necessarily, somewhat late, and found the con- 
gregation at prayer. 



84 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



Dr. Brookes said it was "a good begin- 
ning-" 

And so it proved to be. For the new 
pastor immediately began to conduct protracted 
evangelistic services, which were carried on 
for some time with most encouraging results. 

At his first communion service, soon after 
his arrival, he had the pleasure of welcoming 
into church fellowship forty-five new mem- 
bers, a large proportion being young men, and 
all, it is understood, being adults. 

He referred, on that communion Sunday, 
to the work of his predecessors, Dr. Potts and 
Dr. Rice. With a sense of modesty which 
well became a young man, he gave the glory 
for the very auspicious beginning of his city 
pastorate, first, to his Maker, and then to his 
predecessors. 

His words were: "I am but reaping the 
harvest sown by that saintly man, Dr. Potts, 
who ministered to you of the Word of God; 
and of the loved Dr. Rice, so lately with you." 

So his work in St. Louis was begun most 
hopefully. 

Among those who were received at the 
first communions were young men destined 
to be upholders of Dr. Brookes' hands through- 
out the whole of his thirty-nine years' pastorate 



CATLKD TO ST. TOUTS. 



85 



in St. Louis some of whom are still honored lay 
officers of the Washington and Compton Ave- 
nue Church of that city. Their pastor grew 
old with them, and he has gone beyond. 

It was his custom, in those days, to fre- 
quently meet with his young converts, to in- 
struct them and strengthen them. Such 
meetings are looked back to with special ten- 
derness by those who were a part of them. 

THE COLONIZATION PLAN. 

The Second Church was strong and pros- 
perous when the young minister came to it. 
He would have preferred, doubtless, in many 
ways, a weak or run-down church which need- 
ed a young giant to build it up. The next 
best thing, he held, was to urge colonization. 

Dr. Brookes was always an advocate of 
the church colonization plan, and he soon made 
known his ideas among his St. Louis friends. 
He believed that the strong Second Church 
should send out a branch into a home of its 
own, free from debt. 

He laid before his church officers his argu- 
ments in telling fashion. He showed them 
that in a church so thoroughly filled with mem- 
bers there was little chance for bringing in 
strangers, and as a young minister he wanted 
plenty of growing room. The lesson he had 



86 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



learned in his first pastorate was doubtless 
always before him. 

His plan, in brief, was this: The Second 
Church should buy a suitable site, in the proper 
locality for future usefulness, and erect upon it 
a complete new church. His idea met with 
approval, and a lot at 16th and Walnut street 
was bought. 

There a large chapel was erected. The 
history of that edifice, and the great Presby- 
terian church Dr. Brookes made of it, is told 
in other chapters. 

It is needless to say that when the idea of 
the colony was conceived and carried out, 
there was no thought in the minds of either 
Dr. Brookes or the congregation of the Second 
Church, that he was to go out with any colony. 
But untoward and unexpected circumstances 
developed, and he was urged to lead out that 
colony and to occupy the pulpit of that very 
church, then roofed over, but not finished. 

To one looking back upon those days, the 
workings of Providence are most plainly seen 
in this colonization plan of the brilliant young 
pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church. 
When there was sudden and urgent need of a 
new church home, that home was ready. 



CAIXED TO ST. I,OUIS. 



87 



THE FIRST EUROPEAN TRIP. 

In 1 86 1, Dr. Brookes suffered from a se- 
vere throat trouble. For months he preached 
when every word he uttered was an effort, and 
a painful effort. The trouble was the result of 
severe cold taken while on a journey. 

Waiting, on the way, in a junction depot 
for a late train, he was driven from the room 
by the oaths of a crowd of alleged men. Tired 
and worn out, Dr. Brookes fell asleep in the 
open air, on the prairie sod. A cold resulted, 
which developed into the throat trouble. 

Finally, it reached the stage that the 
urgent wishes of his physician, that he go to 
Paris and consult the leading throat specialist 
of the day, had to be carried out. He arranged 
for a six months' respite, and was soon in 
Paris. 

The specialist's diagnosis of the case was 
alarming. "Dr. Brookes," said the learned 
medico, "you will never be able to speak above 
a whisper again!" 

The state of mind of the young minister 
can be imagined. He determined to hear the 
opinions of others before giving up the strug- 
gle for the winning back of his voice. 

A younger Parisian doctor, but one who 
was rapidly forging ahead in his calling, was 



88 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



then seen. He made a thorough examination 
of the delicate organs, whereas the other had 
done so cursorily. His verdict was far more 
hopeful. He pointed out that the muscles of 
the throat had been sadly over-taxed, when 
tired. But a rest, with certain exercises, he 
predicted, would result in a cure. 

His "certain exercises" astonished the 
minister, and more yet the minister's wife. 
For the physician ordered Dr. Brookes to box 
regularly with a certain famous prize-fighter, 
who conducted a gymnasium. A demurrer 
was entered, naturally. 

"Well, then," was the response, "go to 
some country where you cannot speak the 
language. There you must climb mountains, 
and row." 

There was no objection offered to that 
prescription; and soon the tall, athletic young 
St. Louisan was climbing, rowing and keep- 
ing silent in the Swiss tongue, conscientiously, 
in and about Santa Clair, at the head of Lake 
Geneva. 

The throat muscles were strengthened by 
the vigorous play of the others. One bright 
day Dr. Brookes discovered that his voice 
had returned, and he made the shore of the 



CALLED TO ST. LOUiS. 



89 



lake ring with song (for he was a magnificent 
singer in his youth.) 

The young Parisian specialist had proved 
himself a true prophet. 

RUMORS OF WAR. 

Then came the astounding news that "the 
dogs of war" had been let slip in the United 
States. Alarming rumors reached that quiet 
spot on Lake Geneva. At once Dr. Brookes 
made up his mind to cut short his vacation and 
take chances as to the completion of the cure 
of his throat. 

"My people are in trouble and I must go 
home," he said; and "stayed not on the order 
of his going." 

One of the startling reports that reached 
him, and which was found later to have been 
true, was that of a riot between citizens and 
soldiers which occurred at the very church cor- 
ner, 1 6th and Walnut street. Glass was bro- 
ken in the church windows and in those of the 
parsonage adjoining. 

Another — on which Dr. Brookes could 
have proved an "alibi" of a good many thous- 
and miles had it been necessary — was that ' a 
big, tall man" (Dr. Brookes, thought the mob, 
knowing not that the Doctor was in Switzer- 



90 



JAMES tt. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



land) ' 'was seen firing a gun from the parson- 
age window"! 

As he passed through New York on his 
way home, he was secured to supply the pulpit 
of a leading Dutch Reform church. The ex- 
tent to which he must have pleased his audi- 
tors can be imagined from the fact that, the 
next day, he was politely ' 'sounded" as to 
whether he would * 'consider a call." 

His answer was an explicit "No." His 
duty was to get back home to his troubled peo- 
ple at once, he held. That was no time to 
even think of leaving them, he felt. So that 
very flattering overture to the young West- 
erner was cast aside, and no one but his imme- 
diate family knew anything about that first step 
towards a call to a great New York pulpit. 

The same thing happened many times 
afterwards. Pastoral committees from many 
cities came to St. Louis to "lasso" Dr. Brookes. 
Atone time seven officers of the First Presby- 
terian Church of Indianapolis, suddenly 
appeared (among them U. S. Senator, after- 
wards President, Harrison) on such an errand. 
But such call proffering committee all received 
the same answer. No one outside of his 
own church — and in numerpus cases not 



CALLED TO ST. LOUIS. 



91 



even its members — knew anything of those 
calls, or polite "soundings." 

According to century-end notions of so 
many ministerial lights, what a sad waste of 
self advertising material was that! 



Troublous Times. 




Dr. Brookes in Middle Age. 



CHAPTER VII. 



TROUBLOUS TIMES. 

here were "troublous times" in St. Louis 
Presbyterian circles in the sixties. Good 
men and true differed, and suffered. To 
hear the personal histories of some men of 
those days set forth, brings vividly to the mind 
of the imaginative man or woman of these 
"piping times o' peace" the thought of the 
Scottish Covenanters. 

No correct record of the life of Dr. 
Brookes can be made without recalling the 
part he played in those clays. It was Dr. 
Brookes' firm stand for what he held to be 
right in the soul-trying time, that opened 
the way to the sudden forming of the power- 
ful "Sixteenth Street," later known as the 
Sixteenth and Walnut Street Presbyterian 
Church; the parent of the grand old Washing- 
ton and Compton Avenue Church. 

On the horns of a dilemma is any recorder 
of St. Louis Presbyterian history. He would 

95 




96 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



not stir up any unhappy recollections; yet he 
cannot overlook or slur over "the things 
which are behind/' and at the same time write 
truthful, coherent accounts. It is obvious that 
a few succinct facts must be given, ''with malice 
towards none." No man or woman of proper 
mental poise will be offended thereby. 

Before the war, during the war, and ever 
after the war — from his first sermon to his 
last — Dr. Brookes held firmly that the affairs 
of God and the affairs of Caesar should be 
unalterably separated. 

Therefore, as a pastor, he did not pray 
for the success of this army or that army; 
though he prayed always that the war might 
cease. And whatever might have been the 
wishes of this church member or that church 
member, Dr. Brookes went on immovable in 
the course which his conscience dictated. 

He was but a young minister to be at the 
head of one of the great city Presbyterian 
churches; and displeasing elderly "pillars of the 
church," who conscientiously felt that this 
army or that army should be publicly prayed 
for, might have meant a serious set-back in 
his earthly career. 

But the young Timothy never wavered. 
It was a way he had. 



TROUBLOUS TIMES. 



97 



And when word came to him that, from 
one pair of lips, at least, open disapproval of 
his course had come, he immediately resigned 
the pastorate of the Second Presbyterian 
Church. It might have seemed a great risk, to 
many — that resignation. But there never was 
a bolder, more independent man in his church 
relations than Dr. Brookes. 

It was his intention to leave St, Louis at 
once. He read his resignation on Sunday. 
On the following Monday a deputation of the 
church called on him and urged him to remain, 
as their pastor, in a separate church edifice. 
He accepted the call, after prayerful delibera- 
tion; and the Wednesday following the Six- 
teenth and Walnut Street Church, which after- 
wards became the Washington and Compton 
Avenue, began its useful career. Of that 
movement other chapters will tell. 

MISUNDERSTANDINGS SET STRAIGHT. 

It is well, here and now, to set many 
erroneous views straight. 

Dr. Brookes was a Southerner, born and 
bred, but he was not a Secessionist. His sym- 
pathies were with his friends in the South, but 
he thought their course of action ruinous. 

He was never, as many Southern admir- 
ers have supposed, and have frequently as- 



98 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR, 



serted, a member of the Southern Presbyterian 
Assembly. He was a member, and a leading 
member, of the Independent Synod of Mis- 
souri; a large division of which was eventually 
absorbed by the Southern Assembly. 

When the Northern Assembly seemed to 
him to set itself right on certain lines of policy 
which he had vigorously disagreed with — and 
because of his outspoken disagreement had 
been cut off from that body — he returned to it. 
That was the course his conscience and judg- 
ment dictated. 

The intermingling of the things of God 
with the things of Caesar; of Presbyterianism 
with politics on the part of certain members 
of the Assembly, had led Dr. Brookes to take 
the protesting stand just referred to. He was 
simply consistently carrying out the principles 
which forced him to tender his resignation, so 
suddenly, to his first St. Louis congregation. 

The writer was not born until after the 
War. Naturally, he cannot discuss these mat- 
ters. He simply presents, in the above, and 
the following paragraphs, carefully-gleaned 
historical facts. He goes down to bed-rock 
records, and lets them speak for themselves. 
"the spring resolutions." 

To such actions as the "Spring Resolu- 



TROUBLOUS TIMES. 



99 



tions'' of 1 86 1, adopted by the Northern As- 
sembly at Philadelphia, did Dr. Brookes refer; 
with such, he heartily differed. And when 
he heartily differed with anybody, or any- 
thing, that fact he made known, sometimes 
forcibly. 

One of those resolutions adopted at Phila- 
delphia was: 

''Resolved: That this General Assembly, in 
the spirit of that Christian patriotism which the 
Scriptures enjoin, and which has always char- 
acterized this Church, do hereby acknowledge 
and declare our obligation, to promote and per- 
petuate, so far as in us lies, the integrity of 
these United States, and to strengthen, uphold 
and encourage the Federal Government in the 
exercise of all its functions, under our noble 
Constitution; and to this Constitution, in all 
its provisions, requirements and principles, we 
profess our unabated loyalty. And to avoid 
all misconception, the Assembly declares that 
by the term Federal Government, as here 
used, is not meant any particular Administra- 
tion, or the peculiar opinions of any particular 
party, but that Central Administration which, 
being at any time appointed and inaugurated 
according to the forms prescribed in the Con- 
stitution of the United States, is the visible 
representative of our national existence." 



100 



JAMES H. BROOKES : A MEMOIR. 



*From that '"it will be perceived that a 
Court of the Lord Jesus undertakes to settle 
authoritatively, by a single resolution, a great 
political question which had divided the minds 
of eminent statesmen, North and South, since 
the very foundation of the Government.' " 

Dr. Charles Hodge and fifty seven others 
entered their protest: 

"We, the undersigned, respectively pro- 
test against the action of the General Assembly 
* -x -55- Decause we deny the right of 
the General Assembly to decide the political 
question, to what Government the allegiance 
of Presbyterians, as citizens, is due, and its 
right to make that decision a condition of 
membership in our church. That the paper 
adopted by the Assembly does decide the 
political question just stated, in our judgment, 
is undeniable. 

"It is, however, a notorious fact, that 
many of our ministers and members conscien- 
tiously believe that the allegiance of the citi- 
zens of this country is primarily due to the 
States to which they respectively belong. 
"* * The paper adopted by the Assembly virtu- 
ally declares, on the other hand, that the allegi- 
ance of citizens is due to the United States, 

* "Memoir of Dr, S. G. McPheeters." 



Troublous times. 



101 



anything in the Constitution, ordinances or 
laws of the several States to the contrary not- 
withstanding. * * * * It is the 
allegiance of the Old School Presbyterian 
Church to the Constitution and the Federal 
Government which this paper is intended to 
profess and proclaim. It does, therefore, of 
necessity, decide the political question which 
agitates the country. This is a matter clearly 
beyond the jurisdiction of this house. 

* * * * The General Assembly, 
in thus deciding a political question, and in 
making that decision practically a condition of 
membership of the church, has, in our judg- 
ment, violated the Constitution of the Church 
and usurped the prerogative of its Divine 
Master." 

' 'declaration and testimony." 
Dr. Brookes was one of the prominent 
signers of the " Declaration and Testimony," 
and played an important part in the councils 
which produced it. This document was drawn 
up by the Rev. Samuel R. Wilson — who was 
"neither a Southerner by blood nor a Seces- 
sionist by principle," it should be noted. Dr. 
Wilson's home was in the North, and no one 
ever doubted his loyalty to the Northern cause. 
This document reviewed the entire course 



i02 JAMES H. BR66&ES: A MEMOiR. 

of the political events of the five General As- 
semblies from 1 86 1 through 1865. 

* "A solemn Declaration and Testimony- 
was accordingly drawn up by Rev. Samuel 
R. Wilson, D. D., against the entire political 
action of the five Assemblies, from 1861 to 
1865, inclusive. This Declaration was numer- 
ously signed, particularly in the Synods of 
Kentucky and Missouri, and was largely cir- 
culated through the bounds of the Old School 
Church of the North. It was also formally 
adopted by the Presbytery of Louisville, on 
the 2nd of September, 1865, and became a 
solemn covenant by which all the signers 
pledged themselves to each other to use their 
best endeavors to bring back the church of 
their fathers to her ancient purity and integ- 
rity; and, if finally compelled to withdraw 
from those who have departed from the truth, 
to go bearing with them the true Presbyterian 
Church, with her doctrine, order, worship and 
freedom, as they have been given her by her 
Divine Head, and transmitted from genera- 
tion to generation by the hands of saints, con- 
fessors and martyrs. 

44 As late as 1862 a Presbyter could quietly 
dissent from the acts of the Assembly and yet 

* "Memoir of Dr. S. G. McPheeters." 



TROUBLOUS 'TIMES. 



103 



be allowed to pursue his ministerial avocations 
free from interruption and intolerant persecu- 
tion. He was not required, under penalty of 
arrest and excommunication, to accept the 
doctrines of 'freedom and loyalty,' and to lend 
himself to the execution of ecclesiastical de- 
vices which judgment, unbiased by fanatical 
zeal, could not honestly approve.* * 

"These words were uttered in 1862; 
but in 1865 the aspect of affairs had changed. 
In the meantime the Assembly had taken won- 
derful strides. Every minister was now re- 
quired not only to accept the deliverance, but 
to co-operate actively in the execution of every 
doctrinal and ecclesiastical decree. No option 
remained. One must either go forward with 
the multitude or else, pausing at the voice of 
conscience, protest before the world; while the 
issues of the conflict were confided to that 
God whose judgments are impartial and whose 
purposes shall stand." * * 

"If history, therefore, at this point, is prop- 
erly considered, it will be clearly perceived 
that neither the author of the Declaration and 
Testimony, nor those who sympathized with 
his views were peace-breakers or schismatics; 
but, impelled by the irresistible logic of con- 
science, they sought not simply, to Vender 



104 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 

unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, but 
also unto God the things which are God's.' " 

SESSIONAL RECORDS. 

Next in order, without endeavoring to 
recall all the records of local Presbyterial and 
Synodical debates which centered on Dr. 
Brookes and his church, the most important 
sessional acts naturally follow. 

The subjoined paper, unanimously adopt- 
ed by the session of Dr. Brookes' church on 
July 10, 1874, sets forth clearly the attitude of 
the pastor on some of the grave questions of 
those days of reconstruction — in Presbyterian 
as well as in National existence. 

It should be noted, in passing, that some 
of the honored laymen who subscribed to this 
paper did so most unselfishly. Some of them 
had offered their very lives to the cause of the 
Southern Confederacy. Yet, because they 
believed it was for the "greatest good to the 
greatest number" of their beloved Church, and 
especially because Dr Brookes led the way, 
they cheerfully signed a statement which prac- 
tically cut them (ecclesiastically) aloof from 
many dear friends in the South. 

A.11 honor to those laymen who put the 
good of their Church and pastor above their 
natural inclinations. 



TROUBLOUS TIMES. 



105 



This is the statement: 

"The Session, having fervently sought 
the guidance of Divine Wisdom, cannot see 
the way opened at present to represent this 
church in a Presbytery connected with either 
the Northern or Southern General Assembly. 
Our conviction is very clear that duty to the 
entire number of brethren over whom the 
Holy Ghost has made us overseers, requires 
us to remain practically independent until the 
Lord shall more distinctly indicate to us His 
will concerning our future ecclesiastical rela- 
tions. 

"We stand, therefore, precisely where we 
stood previous to the action of the Old School 
Synod of Missouri in October 1873, deter- 
mined to know neither North nor South in the 
Church of God; refusing to consult our natural 
inclinations in seeking to promote the inter- 
ests of His Kingdom; and anxious to avoid 
even the appearance of being controlled by 
political prejudices or sectional sympathies in 
our association with other Christians. 

"We furthermore declare that the recent 
unanimous action of the Northern General 
Assembly, in frankly and fully accepting and 
adopting the principles for which we have tes- 
tified and suffered during the past eight years. 



106 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



ought to be and shall be the end of our con- 
troversy with that body; and we hereby ex- 
press our desire to co-operate with all in the 
Synod of Missouri and in the Southern Assem- 
bly who are disposed to meet this action in a 
fraternal spirit, and are ready to receive it as 
the removal of any barrier to the closest broth- 
erly intercourse with those from whom we 
have been separated; and forgetting the things 
that are behind, are willing to unite with faith- 
ful witnesses for the truth throughout the en- 
tire Presbyterian family, in earnestly contend- 
ing for the Faith once delivered to the Saints. 

"Meanwhile we give to every one from any 
part of the country or of the world, who may 
choose to worship with us, assurance of a sin- 
cere welcome and of free participation with us 
in the joy of fellowship with our common 
Lord." 

THE ASSEMBLY OF 1 867. 

Rev. Dr. Thomas Fullerton, of Cincin- 
nati, a college classmate of Dr. Brookes', 
whose kindly interest in this work has been 
most valuable, has sent these personal recollec- 
tions of the General Assembly of 1867. It is 
pleasant to have such exact, unbiased records: 

"I saw much of Dr. Brookes during the 
General Assembly of 1867," writes Dr. Fuller- 

» 



TROUBtOUS TIMES 



107 



ton. "He had been one of the signers of the 
'Declaration and Testimony' against certain 
coercive acts and orders of the Assembly of 
1865. He came to Cincinnati in obedience to 
a call to give account of himself. 

"He was not in a meek frame of mind. 
All of his thundering and lightning was ready 
to leap. Two or three of us — his classmates — 
undertook to quiet him. We kept him away 
from his excited set as much as we could. We 
saw that he met, socially, representative men 
on the other side. Personal contact with those 
from whom he differed in opinion almost 
always made him gentle. He was too human 
to resist the appeal of another human heart. 

"I had no faith in the policy to which the 
General Assembly committed itself in the awful 
storm of passion which swept the land after 
the death of Lincoln. I had no faith in the 
logic by which it was argued that the Assem- 
bly could summarily try and cut off ministers 
without the intervention of the Presbytery. 
But I thought that the Gurley resolution might 
be regarded as being proceedings of the nature 
of what is called in courts 'citation for con- 
tempt'; and that when viewed in that light 
they were constitutional. I wrote an explana- 
tory resolution expressing this idea, and 



108 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



showed it to Dr. Gurley. He said that the 
theory on which he had framed his resolution 
was precisely that which I held. But he asked 
me not to introduce my paper, as 'the Assem- 
bly was not composed of men accustomed 
to legal forms and distinctions, and trouble 
might arise.' 

"I yielded reluctantly. But I told Brookes 
what my idea was. He caught at it as a great 
relief. He was ready to 'purge himself of 
contempt,' forthwith. He was aware that 
much of the language used in the 'Declaration 
and Testimony' was 'unnecessarily severe and 
not respectful in tone.' 

"He gave our friend Dr. Gurley, and my- 
self, a full account of that remarkable docu- 
ment — a history rich in drollery, as it was full 
of his own characteristics, and those of other 
men who had been concerned in the move- 
ment. 

"The next day he seemed tired. He told 
us that he had been awake most of the night 
'getting up another speech.' He had dis- 
missed his indignation, and meant to say the 
things which would make peace. 

"He kept his word. People who heard 
him wondered if this was the lion who was to 
roar and rend things. 



TROUBLOUS TIMES. 



109 



"Then he bade us good-bye. 'I am go- 
ing home. I shall not enter the Southern 
Church. I love you fellows too well. But 
there are men who have stood with me in this 
fight, who are not ready to come back as I am, 
this very day. I shall try to hold them steady, 
and some time we shall all be together again/ 
Other things he said, too tender and sacred to 
write. 



"I have seen Brookes only three times 
since. The last time was four years ago. I 
met him on a railway train, and we rode to- 
gether from Asbury Park to Philadelphia. It 
was a blessed hour. He was just the same 
old fellow that he was at Oxford, the same 
that he is always to me in recollection, the 
same that I shall find him, one day, soon. 

"Massive brain! Big heart! Majestic 
presence! Great believer, helper, man of God! 
The life has been worth living that has given 
to me such a friend to be my friend forever, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord." 

In the Assembly which met in St. Louis 
in 1874, Dr. Brookes was pressed to cast his 
lot in with the Northern branch— he feeling, as 
has been set forth, that the body had practi- 



110 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 

cally acknowledged that he had been right. 
He was again joyfully received as a member. 
Yet he ever had the warmest feelings for, and 
enjoyed the respect of, his brethren of the 
South. 



The 16th and Walnut Street 
Church. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



THE SIXTEENTH AND WALNUT 
STREET CHURCH. 

Within one week occurred the resignation 
of Dr. Brookes from the Second Pres- 
byterian Church, and the preaching of 
his first sermon in his new St. Louis charge 
"The Sixteenth Street Presbyterian Church." 

This body was organized on Monday eve- 
ning-, July 4, 1864, by a committee of the St. 
Louis Presbytery, consisting of Joseph F. 
Fenton and James A. Paige, ministers, and 
Wyllys King, ruling elder. One other elder, 
selected, was not present. 

The original membership of the colony 
which urged Dr. Brookes to become its spirit- 
ual guide at the time he resigned his charge 
at the Second Presbyterian Church, was 149. 
These had all been members of the Second 
Church, and they sought out Dr. Brookes. 
He did not turn over his hand, nor utter a 

113 



114 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 

single word to induce them to come out. It 
had been his intention to shake the dust of St. 
Louis from his feet at the time of that resigna- 
tion, but these friends earnestly plead with 
him to remain. 

And there was another argument when 
it was clear to him that these members would 
not be happy in their church environment of 
that time, owing to the peculiar circumstances 
of the day. This argument was the desire of 
Dr. Brookes always for planting and nourish- 
ing church colonies. Here was just such an 
opportunity forced upon him by peculiar exi- 
gencies of the times. He accepted the chance, 
and the history of his long and remarkable 
pastorate over his self-made St. Louis church 
began. 

Only the angels can give record of its 
spiritual harvests. The world knew of it as 
one of the leading Presbyterian churches of 
any land or clime. 

NEW CHURCH WORK BEGINS. 

The ruling elders chosen on that mem- 
orable Fourth of July for the new church were: 
E. Anson More, William S. Woods, Samuel 
W. Barber, Luther T. Woods, James L. 
Sloss and William C. Bean. On July 6th, fol- 
lowing, these were selected as deacons; 



SIXTEENTH AND WALNUT STREET CHURCH. 



115 



Samuel Murdock, George P. Roberts, Joseph 
B. Fenby and James R. Lake. 

These having been properly organized as 
a church, the formal call to a pastor was ex- 
tended. To quote the sessional records: 

" Unanimous call was extended to Rev. 
James H. Brookes, who at the time was 
preaching at the Second Presbyterian Church 
of St. Louis, which he had been serving in 
pastoral labors for about six and a-half years." 

On Wednesday evening, July 6th, 1864, 
the pastor-elect preached his initial sermon, in 
the lecture room of the new church's home, at 
Sixteenth and Walnut street, from the text 
found in Psalm cxxvii: 1, " Except the Lord 
build the house, they labor in vain that build it." 

After this stirring sermon, the trustees 
were elected. These were: Edward Bredell, 
Robert Campbell, John B. S. Lemoine, Charles 
Gibson and William H. Matthews. 

On the following Sabbath evening, July 
10th, after the service, the deacons were 4 'sol- 
emnly set apart and ordained." On Monday, 
August 8th, eighteen new letters applying for 
membership were received by the Session. 
And from that time on, at every communion 
service, there were additions by letter and ex- 
amination. 



116 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 

There was absolutely no proselyting 
among the membership of other churches, by 
Dr. Brookes. From the beginning of his long 
ministry to the end, Dr. Brookes despised that 
type of so-called "pastoral" work. He once 
told his people that he would rather be "a dog 
and bay the moon/' than do it. 

The members of other churches often 
came to hear him, Sunday after Sunday; but 
it was his rule that not until they rented pews 
and handed in their letters did they receive 
calls from the young pastor whose earnestness 
and eloquence had led them to his doors. He 
was even too backward in this matter, some of 
his lay officers felt; but he so preferred to be. 

From this time on there was a steady and 
remarkable growth in the membership in the 
Sixteenth and Walnut Street Church. The 
young elders worked hand-in-hand with their 
zealous young captain. In the Sessional 
records is to be seen, often, such a sentence 
as this, quoted from the record of the gather- 
ing in the pastor's study, Monday evening, 
October 24, 1864: "The Moderator reported 
70 visits, Elder W. S. Woods, 15; Sloss, 26; 
Bean, 33; Barber, 27." 

On October 6, 1864, Elders S. A. More 
and W. S. Woods were appointed delegates 



SIXTEENTH AND WALNUT STREET CHURCH. 117 



to the meeting of St. Louis Presbytery, held 
on the ioth of that month, and were authorized 
to secure the deed of the church property from 
those members of the Second Presbyterian 
Church in whose names it stood. The church 
at Sixteenth and Walnut street, it should be 
recalled, was built for a colony of that body. 
It was Dr. Brookes' expressed plan, as has 
been shown, at the very beginning of his St. 
Louis ministry, to build up such a colony. 

A MISSIONARY CHURCH. 

A feature of the work of the Sixteenth 
and Walnut Street Church was its successful 
Sunday-school effort. It would cheer the 
heart of the modern city Sunday-school super- 
intendent to see the hundreds of children which 
used to flock to this church on the first day of 
the week. 

There was a large morning school, and 
another great gathering, presided over by Mr. 
Shepherd Woods, in the afternoon. The 
former was especially the school for the chil- 
dren of the church, while the latter was more 
of a mission school. 

There were also, as always in the history 
of Dr. Brookes' pastorate, outposts established 
in various sections of the city. At those points 



118 JAM£S H. BROOK J{S: A MEMOIR. 

faithful workers, young and old, conducted 
mission Sunday-schools. 

The ladies' societies were strong and 
active. Interest in missions was always notice- 
able, and this church had the honor of furnish- 
ing the first president of the noble Woman's 
Southwest Board of Missions. That position 
was held by its incumbent for twelve consecu- 
tive years. 

It is interesting to recall atypical "annual 
report" of this church. That of February 7, 
1877, for the preceding year was: 

"Number of members January 1, 1876, 

803. 

"Received by profession, 77; by letter, 
50. Lost by dismission to other churches, 29; 
by death, 13. Membership, January 1, 1878, 
888. 

"Baptisms, adults, 7; infants, 15. 
"Visits, by the pastor, 600; by the ses- 
sion, 600." 

WESTWARD HO ! 

The church at 16th and Walnut street 
gradually became hemmed about by factories 
and stores. Many of the membership had 
moved westward, and it was believed that the 
church should follow them, for the best good 
of the greatest number of its communicants. 



SIXTEENTH AND WALNUT STREET CHURCH. 



119 



The minutes, under the date of December 
28, 1876, tell the tale: 

il Resolved; That we, the members of this 
church, now commonly called the Walnut 
Street Presbyterian Church, do hereby author- 
ize * * the trustees in whom the legal title 
to the lot and church building is vested, to- 
wit, by a certain deed from Carlos S. Greeley 
and Edward Bredell to Robert Campbell, 
Charles Gibson, Edward Bredell and John 
B. S. Lemoine, dated July, 1864, to take steps 
to sell said lot and church building at the best 
prices and on the best terms they can in their 
judgment obtain, and to hold the proceeds of 
said sale, subject to further orders of the mem- 
bers of this Church, for the purpose of aiding 
in the erection of a church building on a lot of 
ground situated at the southwest corner of 
Washington and Compton avenues." 

A secondary reason for the removal to 
the West End should be recalled. It was the 
sending out of a colony of about seventy-five 
members to form the now strong Lafayette 
Park Presbyterian Church. 

Dr. Brookes is largely responsible for that 
church, which is so firmly rooted under Dr. 
S. C. Palmer's lead, that not even the memor- 



120 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



able tornado of May 27th, 1896, could scat- 
ter it. 

Dr. Brookes felt that there should be a 
strong Presbyterian Church on the South Side, 
and told his people so. Several churches had 
been started in that section, but none were 
able to obtain a good foothold. Again the 
desire to plant colonies showed itself in the acts 
of the pastor of this church. He practically 
formed a strong colony by inducing some of 
his most important lay helpers to join in it; 
and then turned its face southward. 

The following sessional record is of inter- 
est in this connection: 

"Monday evening, April 15, 1878. 

"Session met at the pastor's residence 
and was constituted by prayer. Present, J. H. 
Brookes, Moderator, and Elders Butler, Sloss, 
Wood, Woods, Lemoine and Barber. 

"The clerk reported having issued the fol- 
lowing letters of dismission to members of this 
church intending to unite with others in the 
organization of a new church, to be called the 
Lafayette Park Presbyterian Church, to- wit: 

"D. C. Jaccard, Edward Bredell, William 
Burg, Given Campbell, Dr. Wm. A. McCand- 
less, Henry M. Noel, Thomas G. Russel, Dr. 
Robert C. Atkinson, Louis Matthews," and 
others. 



The Washington and Comp- 
ton Avenue Church. 



CHAPTER IX. 

THE WASHINGTON AND COMPTOT5 
AVENUE CHURCH. 

he last sermon Dr. Brookes preached at 
the Sixteenth and Walnut Street Church 
was on April 27, 1879. On May 4th, 
of the same year, he delivered his first sermon 
in the lecture room of the Washington and 
Compton Avenue Church. 

The first service in the church, as it is to- 
day, was held on December 5, 1880. 

Steadily the work advanced. Dr. Brookes 
was in his prime, and his fame as a preacher, 
a scholar, and an author, was world-wide. 

The great auditorium was filled with lis- 
teners every Sunday. Practically all the pews 
on the main floor of the vast room were 
rented, and some of those in the gallery as 
well. 

ITS MANY-SIDED WORK. 

The Washington and Compton Avenue 

123 




124 JAMES H . BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



Church has always been a giving church, pre- 
eminently. The ladies of the church alone, 
one year, gave to missions $3,500. The morn- 
ing Sunday-school, a few years ago, took up 
the largest single collection to missions of any 
Presbyterian Sunday-school in the United 
States that year. 

Systematic giving has always been incul- 
cated from the pulpit. 

The work of the Washington and Comp- 
ton Avenue Church, too, has always been 
many-sided, and all have been blessed. 

The women of the church, from the first, 
were active in behalf of home and foreign 
missions, and also gave liberally of time and 
money in the interest of the * 'heathen" in St. 
Louis, so to speak. The pastor's wife proved 
herself to be a splendid executive head in their 
various societies. 

The ladies labored for the quondam Pres- 
byterian Home (now merged in Mrs. Roger 
Haynes' great work of faith, the Bethesda 
Homes.) They assumed also a remaining part 
of the church's debt, and refitted and refur- 
nished the lecture-room. Their missionary 
society, and working band, have been models 
in many respects. Their large gifts have been 
referred to. Much of the money came from 



WASHINGTON AND COMPTON AVENUE CHURCH. 



125 



those who had to plan in order to give so gen- 
erously. Missionaries are supported in the 
foreign fields, and great boxes go yearly to 
help out the meagre salaries of Home Mission- 
ary laborers on the frontier posts. Boxes go, 
also, to foreign lands. Gifts to the various 
Boards of the church are encouraged through 
the Deacons' Fund. 

Mission Sunday-schools have always been 
a marked feature in the work of this church. 
Among these is a chapel for colored Presby- 
terians, a work in which Mr, W. L. Green, Jr., 
has long been especially interested. 

The roster of the church's officers to- 
day — some of whom were in similar offices 
when the joint history of Dr. Brookes and the 
Washington and Compton Avenue Church 
began to be — is as follows: 

Elders Samuel W. Barber, William T. 
Barron, F. L. V. Brokaw, Wallace C. Butler, 
William L. Green, Jr., Edwin S. Lemoine, 
Edgar McClelland. 

S. W. Barber is the Clerk of the Session. 

The Deacons are: James M. Carpenter, 
Dabner Carr, Arthur A. Eddy, Ben F. 
Edwards, James E. Fogg, James I. McClel- 
land, Ewing M. Sloan and Geo. J. Whitehead. 

The personnel of the Board of Trustees: 



126 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



Elmer B. Adams, James M. Carpenter, 
William T. Barron, John D. Davis and Geo. 
D. Markham. 

These gentlemen all have the best inter- 
ests of the church deep at heart. During the 
past year some of them have spent generously 
of money, and their equally marketable time — 
stolen from their business — for the church's 
good. They stand, to-day, united in its ser- 
vice. 

*A STUDY OF THE MINUTES. 

To many the reading of the church min- 
utes is an unheard of proceeding. They hold 
that no one can read them and keep awake. 

But there are records in the minutes of 
this church which are of intense interest to the 
lovers of Dr. Brookes' memory, and the great 
church he led. 

For such, there are here reproduced care- 
fully-gleaned extracts — "lest we forget." 
These will touch, here and there, on events 
which many will recall with interest. 

Those who care little or nothing for "the 
things which are behind" in the history of the 
Washington and Compton Avenue Church 

*This entire chapter, it may be frankly stated, is intended, practi- 
cally, only for the eyes of the membership of the Washington and 
Compton Avenue Presbyterian Church, St. Louis. Minutiae is set forth 
here which, naturally, the general reader may not be greatly inter- 
acted in, p. R . w, 



WASHINGTON AND COMPTON AVENUE CHURCH. 127 



are respectfully urged to begin to "skip," right 
here and now, in this chapter. 

A study of the minutes of the church gives 
evidence of a steady accession of new mem- 
bers. 

Faithful search has not shown a single 
communion Sunday, in Dr. Brookes' active 
pastorate, when there were no additions to the 
membership, by examination or letter, (gener- 
ally both.) 

Fearing that their hard-working pastor 
would break down, the church kindly took the 
following action, as quoted from the minutes 
of February 8, 1884. Sincere testimony is 
borne to his zeal and faithfulness. 

"St. Louis, February 8, 1884. 

"Whereas, It is evident that our pastor's 
health has not been re-established during the 
past winter, and that his present physical con- 
dition is such that it is desirable that he should 
soon have entire rest from obligatory labor, 
and that he should even now be saved from 
all labor external to this church, and that in 
order to his relief a supply should be provided 
for the pulpit, to commence his service as soon 
as may be agreeable to our pastor, and to con- 
tinue for such period as may be necessary to 



128 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR, 



enable him, with the blessing of God, through 
complete rest from labor, to recover his health 
and resume his duties as pastor of this church, 
with the prospect of maintaining such con 
firmed health for many years; 

"And, whereas, our beloved pastor has 
given the flower of his life and the best of his 
energies and ability to the service of this 
church, and has never spared himself, but with 
unswerving fidelity has ever sought to pro- 
mote its highest interests, it is our earnest wish 
and desire to do whatever may be in our pow- 
er to bring about the restoration of his health." 

At this time Dr. Brookes was in a serious 
state, through insomnia. A trip to Europe 
was taken, from which the pastor returned 
greatly refreshed, and strengthened for his 
work. 

A previous record (of November 5, 1882,) 
recalls the life, good works and peaceful death 
of an elder very dear to Dr. Brookes, James 
L. Sloss. The two had been most intimate. 
It is quoted: 

"The following minutes on the death of 
Elder James L. Sloss, were adopted and 
ordered to be recorded: 

"On the lyth day of August, 1882, James 
L. Sloss was absent from the body and pres- 



WASHINGTON AND COMPTON AVENUE CHURCH. 129 



ent with the Lord. He was elected a ruling 
elder of this church at the date of its organiza- 
tion, July 4, 1864; and for a period of more 
than eighteen years he conscientiously and 
wisely discharged the duties of the important 
office to which he was chosen by his brethren. 

''During the whole of that period he was 
also the superintendent of the Sunday-school, 
or the teacher of a Bible class, and through 
the last few years of his mortal life he was 
president of the Board of Trustees. In all of 
these positions he was singularly faithful to his 
trust, and never, unless absent from the city, 
or confined to his home by sickness, was his 
place vacant in any appointed meeting of the 
church. Often, indeed, in declining health, 
when it seemed rash to expose himself to in- 
clement weather, he insisted on the privilege 
of attending the regular services of the sanc- 
tuary. 

"It is not, therefore, an empty form of ex- 
pression, when the session record their deep 
sense of personal bereavement, and of the 
great loss sustained by the church in the de- 
parture of their beloved brother/' 

Here are two typical "Reports to Presby- 
tery," selected at random. 



130 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 

c< Report to Presbytery, April 17, 1882. 
(For the year ending March 31, 1882.) 

" Number of Elders, 5; number of 
Deacons, 11. 

"Added on examination, 35; added on 
certificate, 51. 

Total communicants, 588. 

"Baptized, adults, 9; baptized, infants, 25. 

"Sunday-school membership, 830. 

CONTRIBUTIONS. 



Home Missions .$2,065 00 

Foreign Missions 733 00 

Publication 89 00 

Ministerial Relief 100 00 

General Assembly , 66 50 

Congregational !0>799 00 

Miscellaneous 3>*5 2 00 



"Report to Presbytery. (For year ending- 
March 31, 1885.) 

"Number of Elders, 5; number of Dea- 
cons, 9. 

"Added on examination, 28; added on 
certificate, 17. 

"Total communicants, 664. 
"Baptized, adults, 5; infants, 12. 
"Sunday-school membership, 1,116, 



WASHINGTON AND COMPTON AVENUE CHURCH. 



131 



CONTRIBUTIONS. 



Home Missions $1,902 00 

Foreign " 820 00 

Church Erection 690 00 

Congregational . 9,980 00 

Miscellaneous 5*863 00 

Relief Fund 256 00 

General Assembly 76 44 



In November, 1885, the need of additional 
elders and deacons was felt, and on November 
25th the following were chosen to assist in 
the management of the great church: 

William T. Barron, Dr. W. L. Brokaw 
and James B. Sharpe. 

New deacons were elected by the congre- 
gation two evenings later, but of those, only 
two, Benjamin F. Edwards and George J. 
Whitehead have been serving of late. 

THE FUTURE. 

And before the church, spreads the future. 

Dr. Brookes' mantle has fallen on Dr. 
Frank W. Sneed's broad shoulders. 

This young pastor has left a noble record 
behind at Columbia, Mo„ and Minneapolis. 
That past is an earnest of his future useful " 
ness. 

His reverence for the whole Bible, and 
for the Premillenial hope which Dr. Brookes 



132 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



championed, is strong. He has proven him 
self, already, a man who shuns no hard work, 
and who has able executive ability. He is 
possessed, too, of winning graces of mind and 
body; and knows how to make those useful 
people — friends. 

His sermons are doctrinal, strong and 
forcibly delivered. 

His fund of sound sense is refreshingly 
large. 

The church has every reason to take cour- 
age and press on, shoulder to shoulder, as 
their late beloved pastor would tenderly urge 
them to do were he alive to-day. 



The Preacher and Pastor. 




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Fac-simile of an interleaved page in one of Dr. Brookes' Bibles. 



Each division is an entire sermon. In the Bible in question there are 800 such 
sermons. They stand complete; he never wrote an additional 
line on them. 



CHAPTER X. 



THE PREACHER AND PASTOR. 

r. Brookes entered the ministry because, 
as he often said, in the language of 
Scripture: "Woe is me if I preach not 
the Gospel." There was no youthful cant in 
James Brookes, the boy. He had not the 
slightest desire to become a minister then. 
That has been pointed out. He had hoped to 
be a soldier, and it took all his beloved moth- 
er's eloquent arguments to keep him out of 
West Point, when the doors there swung out- 
ward to him. 

Only after a long struggle did he feel that 
the call to preach had been heard clearly and 
very loudly; and right here it is fitting to say 
that Dr. Brookes often questioned whether all 
young men who entered the ministry searched 
their very souls enough in ascertaining whether 
the "calls" were really heard by them; whether 
they did not. in fact, sometimes strain their 
ears for them. ,« 




136 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



Brookes went into that highest calling as 
he would have gone into West Point. He 
prepared to fight, and to stand fast forever 
against any one, or every one if necessary, for 
what he held to be true. 

As a minister he was often the same icon- 
oclast that had caused the shaking of numerous 
heads at the seminary. There was no minis- 
terial livery on his person, no intonation in his 
utterances. He demanded respect for himself, 
not because his was a sacred calling. He 
asked "no benefit of clergy." 

OPPOSED TO THE PULPIT POLITICIAN. 

Early he showed by a remarkable pulpit 
utterance that his convictions as to the pulpit 
politician were deep and real. Later, during 
the trying days of the early 6o's, he was sim- 
ply carrying to a logical conclusion those same 
convictions. 

In a lecture on the "Life of Dr. Nettleton," 
delivered at Dayton in 1856, concerning that 
famous preacher of a day that is gone, he 
pointedly said: 

"He did not then present to the world, as 
is the case in all portions of our country, the 
sad and shocking spectacle of the sacred pul- 
pit turned into a political rostrum, from which 
savage denunciations and fierce harangues are 



THE PREACHER AND PASTOR. 



137 



uttered to stir up strife, and lead men's thoughts 
away from the contemplation of heavenly and 
Divine themes. He felt that the Bible pre- 
sented subjects enough to occupy his time and 
challenge the mightiest efforts of his intellect, 
and that the one business of ministers as min- 
isters is simply to present the message of God 
to a perishing world. 

''He saw, as doubtless you have seen, as 
certainly I have seen, that when preachers 
lose the spirit of their station and descend to 
dabble in the mud-pool of politics, they invari- 
ably get dirtier than any other men. 

"They are more furious in their utter- 
ances, more relentless in their severity, more 
uncompromising in their prejudices. 

4 'He had his own opinions on all proper 
occasions, and at all proper times, no doubt, he 
freely avowed them; but he protested, as all 
good men should, against devoting God's day 
and God's house, and God's desk, to any other 
purpose than the mission which we are sent to 
accomplish/' 

A NATURAL ORATOR. 

From his earliest pulpit experiences, Dr. 
Brookes was a natural orator. 

He was tall and of an exceptionally hand- 
some and commanding presence. His voice 



138 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



was clear and strong. His gestures, never 
studied, gave, naturally, force and emphasis to 
his utterances. He was the very embodied 
antithesis of pulpit affectation of any sort or 
condition. And he never preached a sermon 
without impressing his hearers, at once, with a 
deep sense of his tremendous earnestness and 
sincerity. 

While in the earlier years of his ministry 
it was his habit to write out in entirety his ser- 
mons (a custom he gave up many years ago), 
yet he never read them in the pulpit. 

His memory was marvelous. He was 
famed for his absolute command of the lan- 
guage of the Scriptures, and his sermons 
abounded in copious quotations. Yet in his 
earliest ministry he was not the strictly Biblical 
preacher that he soon became; that is to say, 
he quoted also the science and literature of the 
day. 

But soon, while still keeping fully abreast 
of science and literature, he ceased to quote 
such works in his sermons, and drew his audi- 
tors' thoughts only to the Book of Books. 

He actually struggled, too, against his 
natural bent as an orator. He held himself 
under; it was his wish to do nothing, to say 
nothing, that could in the slightest degree de- 



THE PREACHER AND PASTOR. 



139 



tract from the plain, strong, Gospel message. 

As to his splendid oratorical gifts, the fol- 
lowing anecdote is apropos. A certain man 
of intelligence and taste, though not a Chris- 
tian, frequently heard Dr. Brookes preach. 
This man was a constant actendant at the 
theaters of St. Louis, and was considered an 
eminent critic. 

One Sunday, at the close of one of Dr. 
Brookes' sermons, he thoughtfully said, re- 
ferring to the greatest American tragedian: 
"In that man Brookes the stage has lost a 
Booth." 



There are those who may have supposed 
that Dr. Brookes, in late days, did not stoop — 
so to speak — to read the current literature of 
his day; because, forsooth, his pulpit utter- 
ances were not tinged with references to such 
works, as is so general in modern sermonizing. 

But that was a great mistake. He did 
read them; he was a wonderful reader, with a 
wonderful memory for what he read; but he 
did not "stoop" to quote "such stuff," (as he 
would dub it) in his sermons. 

Many of his most wonderful sermons are 
contained in a few notes in the margin of one 
of his many marked Bibles. Generally, per- 



140 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



haps always, of later years, the sermons fell 
into seven heads, — the sacred number of the 
Scriptures. 

These sermons were first of all Scriptural, 
logical, constructed in lucid English, carefully 
planned, abounding in striking illustrations; 
smiting and sparing not the sinner, but at the 
same time urging him to cease from sin; full 
of fire, and frequently enlivened by a delicious 
bit of humor. 

But it is needless, and also futile, to dis- 
cuss Dr. Brookes' preaching. No written 
words can describe it adequately. 

Those who heard him preach know, — and 
can never forget. It cannot be explained to 
others now. 

He was in the class of the Great Preach- 
ers of the World. Even those who criticised 
him, in and out of the ministry admit that. 
(Being a great man he had, as a matter of 
course, a great man's enemies and fault- 
finders.) 

THE PASTOR. 

As a young pastor he was most popular 
with all classes. 

He was of a marked social disposition. 
In his earlier years, and in middle age, before 
ill health came upon him, he was fond of mak- 



THE PREACHER AND PASTOR. 



141 



ing "pastoral calls." It was not done from 
any sense of duty, and he never forgot that 
such were pastoral calls. They were used as 
occasions for sowing seeds that resulted in 
soul-winning. 

His many-sided experiences among men, 
and his utter freedom from clerical habiliments 
and formalities, opened the way for him to 
many young men's hearts. He loved to hear 
and tell of comical events. His sense of humor 
was strongly developed. 

That gift of being "good company" (in the 
true sense of that expression) to all sorts and 
condition of men — though always in a dignified 
manner — was a marked feature in the pastoral 
work of Dr. Brookes. He was what modern 
politicians would call a "good mixer" among 
men. 

One of the stories handed down in his 
family was a palpable hit against the anti-cler- 
ical clothes he wore when a young man; from 
heedlessness, not from any design. 

At a hotel he was once approached by a 
professional gambler, who knowingly invited 
the tall, handsome young stranger of some- 
what dashing — and anything but clerical — ap- 
pearance, to join him in a joint raid upon the 
pocket-books of other guests. 



142 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



The "black-leg'' actually took Dr. Brookes 
to be a fellow gambler! 

When a young pastor in St. Louis, after 
leaving the Second Church, he was surrounded 
by a number of young elders and deacons, 
among whom he was an earnest, helpful broth- 
er. The relation between pastor and lay offi- 
cers was an ideal one. They met together 
for counsel as members of a family might. 
And when the formalities were finished the 
session meeting partook of the nature of a 
happy reunion. 

On one memorable occasion there were 
so many good stories to be told that there were 
a number of distracted wives, who sat up won- 
dering and waiting till the "wee sma' hours." 

As years were added, and ill health, with 
accompanying depression of spirits, came, the 
pastoral duties could not so frequently be 
attended to. Yet to the last Dr. Brookes was 
a * 'home-going pastor," who made ' 'a church- 
going people." Hundreds of visits were made 
by him even during his last years. 

It was at times when death entered the 
home of one of his dear people that he was at 
his best as a loving shepherd of his flock. 

His power to comfort bruised hearts was 



THE PRKACHER AND PASTOR. 



143 



God-given, Hundreds testify to this. Many 
who were led to accept Christ through him 
had the way opened by the tenderness and 
helpfulness of his ministrations at the death- 
bed of those near and dear. 

He had suffered as no pen can describe, 
in the deaths of his two beautiful daugh- 
ters. Having supped the cup of woe to its 
dregs, he could truly ''weep with those who 
wept." 



"How I Became a Pre- 
lennialist." 



CHAPTER XI. 



-HOW I BECAME A PRE-MILLENNI- 
ALIST." 

o record of Dr. Brookes' life and works 
would be complete without careful ref- 
erence to his advocacy of the pre-mil- 
lennial belief. Far better than any attempt of 
another to tell the history of his life from this 
stand-point, is it to quote his own words: 

"HOW I BECAME A PRE-MILLENNIALIST.' ' 

"Friends have asked me to print the story 
of my conversion to pre-millennial truth. 
During the first years of my ministry the sub- 
ject had never occupied my attention. There 
was a vague and indefinite idea in my mind 
that after a long interval, probably many thous- 
ands of years, there would be a general resur- 
rection and a general judgment; but even then 
there was no thought of our Lord's personal 
return to the earth. It was supposed that at 
some place, perhaps in the air, all would to- 

147 




148 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



gether, or one by one, hear the sentence that 
must fix their eternal destiny. 

' 'Apart from this no sermon had ever been 
preached in my hearing about the coming of 
the Lord. No allusion was ever made to it in 
the course of my imperfect theological training. 
No book concerning it had ever been read. 
In my boyhood people had heard, even in the 
distant and obscure part of the South where 
my mother lived, that Mr. Miller, of New 
England, had fixed upon the day of Christ's 
appearing, and it caused considerable excite- 
ment. But the day passed without any unus- 
ual occurrence; and those who looked for His 
coming were regarded as cranks, if not actually 
crazy. 

' 'The 'Theological and Literary Journal/ 
edited by Mr. D. N. Lord, of New York, was 
taken, but his articles on Eschatology were 
skipped in reading. In fact, the entire theme 
was utterly distasteful to me, and even offen- 
sive. My eyes were closed and my heart 
sealed to the plain testimonies of God's Word; 
and the plain references to the second coming 
were either passed over, or at least they made 
no impression whatever. 

"At last a morning came when it was 
necessary to read the book of Revelation in 



HOW I BECAME A PRE MIUvENNIALIST. 149 



family worship. It has always been my habit 
to assemble the members of my household im- 
mediately after breakfast for reading the Scrip- 
ture and prayer, each one reading a verse in 
turn. On that particular morning, discovering 
that the book of Revelation was before us, 
some other place in the Bible was found; and 
when the family went out of the study the 
question was put to my conscience and heart. 
Why did you omit the last book God has giv- 
en us? 

"The reply made to myself was. Because 
I do not understand it. The book is so full of 
strange beasts and mysterious symbols, it does 
me no good. But did God make a mistake in 
putting that book into the canon of sacred 
Scripture? That it had a right there was as 
clear as the inspiration of John's gospel or the 
Epistle to the Romans; and after all might it 
not be my fault that it was so meaningless? 

"Convicted and condemned at the bar of 
my own conscience, I opened the book and 
read it through at a single sitting. My mind 
was engaged and interested in an unusual de- 
gree; and my attention was arrested by a state- 
ment in the very beginning, 'Blessed is he that 
readeth, and they that hear the words of this 
prophecy, and keep those things w r hich are 



15G 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



written therein/ (Rev. i. 3). It struck me 
that the Holy Ghost had said nothing about 
understanding it, but, 'Blessed is he thatread- 
eth.' 

"Enough was known about the prophecies 
in general to remember that the book of Daniel 
and the book of Revelation bear a close resem- 
blance to each other; and so the former book 
was read with intense interest, and then the 
latter book again, at one time; and in an hour 
or two it was seen that in Daniel the Spirit of 
God explains some of the symbols, as the 
great image of Nebuchadnezzar and the four 
wild beasts, representing the four mighty world 
powers. This gave a little light upon my path- 
way through the book of Revelation. 

"Then it occurred to me to commence 
with the Old Testament prophets and the 
whole of the New Testament, with a lead 
pencil in my hand, marking every passage and 
verse that bears upon the future of the church 
and the world. That there were many other 
prophecies before reaching the book of Isaiah 
was unknown to me in my ignorance; but the 
four greater prophets and the twelve minor 
prophets, together with the entire New Testa- 
ment, were carefully and prayerfully perused. 
Probably a month passed in the investigation, 



HOW I BECAME A PRE-MIU,ENNIAI,IST. 



151 



and not a single human book nor comment, 
nor exposition of any sort, was touched. 

4 'Having gathered up the marked pas- 
sages and brought them together, three con- 
clusions were definitely reached. First, Jesus 
Christ is coming back to this world as truly, 
bodily, visibly, personally as that He was born 
in Bethlehem of Judea. Second, things shall 
not always remain as they are now, but 'nation 
shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither 
shall they learn war any more' (Isa. ii. 4); 
'The wolf shall dwell with the lamb and the 
leopard shall lie down with the kid' (Isa xi. 6), 
'The inhabitants shall not say, I am sick; the 
people that dwell therein shall be forgiven 
their iniquity' (Isa. xxxiii. 24); 'The earth 
shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory 
of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea' (Hab. 
ii : r 4.) . Third, this glorious change shall not 
precede, but succeed that glorious coming. 

"This was many years ago, and the con- 
clusions then reached have been deepened by 
every day's study of the Word of God, and by 
the actual condition then and now of the 
church and the world. It has made me a 
lonely man, but it has been an unspeakable 
blessing to my soul, especially in times of sore 
affliction and discouragement. It has uproot- 



152 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 

ed selfish ambition and a desire for human ap- 
plause, and caused me to aim at least in bear- 
ing true testimony for our now rejected 
Lord, with a longing to be well pleasing to 
Him at His coming. Especially does 'that 
blessed hope' throw a gleam of glory upon the 
graves of my beloved dead. It frets me no 
longer because many of my dear brethren can 
not see this precious truth, which shines like 
the sun at noonday from the Word of God, and 
which is a veritable key to unlock the mean- 
ing of the Scriptures. John the Baptist was 
a faithful witness when he said, 'a man can 
receive nothing except it be given him from 
heaven' (Jno. iii. 27). God forbid that a poor 
sinner should judge them, for to their own 
Master they stand or fall." 

The last article Dr. Brookes ever wrote 
on this subject, so dear to him, appeared in the 
May (1897) number of The Truth. It was 
finished but a few weeks before his death. 

It clearly sets forth his views, and should 
settle all doubts as to any mistaken statements 
that he had changed his fixed principles as to 
the Rapture of the Saints previous to the great 
Tribulation, (see italics in following quota- 
tion), or any other phase of the subject. The 
article is: 



HOW I BECAME A PRE-MILLENNIAUST. 



153 



"WHO SHALL BE CAUGHT UP ? 

"This question is distinctly answered by 
the testimony of the Holy Ghost. 'This we 
say unto you by the word of the Lord'— not 
the word of Peter, or James, or John — 'that we 
which are alive, and remain unto the coming 
of the Lord, shall not prevent' — precede or go 
before — 'them which are asleep. For the Lord 
Himself — not death, nor the Holy Spirit, nor 
any providential event — 'shall descend from 
Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an 
archangel, and with the trump of God; and 
the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we 
which are alive and remain, shall be caught up 
together with them in the clouds, to meet the 
Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with 
the Lord,' i Thess. iv. 15, 17. 

** There are many beloved brethren who 
think that only pre-millennialists shall be 
caught up, claiming that the promise is 4 unto 
all them that love His appearing,' 2 Tim. iv. 8; 
'unto them that look for Him,' Heb. ix. 28. 
But there are tens of thousands, now sleeping 
in the grave, who were, beyond all doubt, earn- 
est and faithful Christians in life, and yet they 
never heard of our Lord's personal return, or 
at least never grasped its meaning. They 
surely are in Christ; and 'the dead in Christ 



154 JAMES H. BROOKES .' A MEMOIR. 



shall rise first.' If they come forth from the 
slumber of the tomb, whether they were pre- 
or post-millennialists, it is certain that there 
can be no partial rapture. 

" 'Every man in his own order/ band or 
cohort; 'Christ the first fruits; afterward they 
that are Christ's, at His command,' i Cor. 
xv. 23. If they are Christ's by faith in Him 
as their Lord and Redeemer, they shall be 
His at His coming, even though they have 
not looked forward to His advent with hope 
and joy. 'Behold, I show you a mystery: we 
shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed 
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the 
last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and 
the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we 
shall be changed,' 1 Cor. xv. 51, 52. Here 
there is obviously no difference between those 
living and those sleeping, when the Lord 
comes again. Whether changed or raised, 
they all share alike in the glory of His second 
advent. 

" 'Our enrollment as citizens is in heaven; 
from whence also we look for the Savior, the 
Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change the body 
of our humiliation, that it may be fashioned 
like unto His glorious body, according to the 
working whereby He is able to even subdue 



HOW I BKCAMK A PRK-MIIXKNNIAIJST. 



155 



all things unto Himself,' Phil iii. 20, 21. It is 
evident that all believers are here included, 
without reference to their attainments in knowl- 
edge, and all will have part in the resurrection, 
and in the splendid transformation that shall 
then be experienced. 

' But the thought that only pre-millenni- 
alists are caught up to meet the Lord in the 
air, plainly implies some superior merit on 
their part, either of acquaintance with the truth, 
or faithfulness in conduct. Thus a self-com- 
placent and self-righteous spirit is uncon- 
sciously fostered, which is in every way most 
injurious. There are many who believe in 
Christ's pre-millennial coming as a doctrine, 
and yet are living far from Him practically; 
sometimes, at least, being surpassed in their 
devotedness by post-millennialists — who know 
nothing, or care nothing, for the truth concern- 
ing His second advent. 

"So there are all degrees of faithfulness, 
from those who have scarcely more than a 
'name to live,' to those who are consecrated, 
loving, obedient children of God. What meas- 
ure of faithfulness must be achieved in order 
to entitle us to look for the reward of being 
caught up at the Lord's return? Alas! any 
who have a proper estimate of themselves will 



156 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 

be the last to boast of meriting reward, and 
will gladly attribute all they are, all that they 
have, all that they hope to be, and shall have 
forever, to free, sovereign, unmerited grace. 
They are ready to listen to the rebuke of the 
Holy Ghost: k Who maketh thee to differ? and 
what hast thou that thou didst not receive? 
Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou 
glory, as if thou didst not receive it'? i Cor. 
iv. 7. 

4 ' There is another fact to be considered in 
pondering this question, and that is the unity 
of the church. 'For as the body is one, and 
hath many members, and all the members of 
that one body, being many, are one body; so 
also is the Christ. For by one Spirit are we 
all baptized into one body,' 1 Cor. xii. 11, 12. 
'The church, which is His body, the fullness of 
Him that filleth all in all,' Eph. i. 23. It does 
not seem according to Scripture that our Lord 
would have one part of His body asleep in the 
grave, and another part raised in glory; one 
part amid the entanglements of the great trib- 
ulation on the earth, and another part caught 
up to meet Him in the air. Hence it is im- 
possible to sympathize with many dear breth- 
ren in their view of a partial rapture. 

* 'It is equally impossible to accept the teaching of 



HOW I BECAME A PRE-MIIXENNIAUST. 157 



many other excellent brethren, that the church, the real 
church, the regenerated ones, those washed in the blood 
of the Lamb, ajid the children of God by faith in Jesus 
Christ, must pass through the great tribulation, or 

that there is no perceptible difference between 
the coming the Lord for His saints, and His 
appearing with them. There will doubtless be 
a vast multitude calling themselves Christians, 
over whom the tribulation judgments will roll; 
but to the true believer the promise of the 
coming Lord is addressed with sweet assur- 
ance, 'Because thou hast kept the word of my 
patience, I also will keep thee out of the hour 
of temptation which will come upon all the 
world, to try them that dwell upon the earth,' 
Rev. iii. 10. 

"These brethren are in the habit of quot- 
ing such passages as, 'This gospel of the King- 
dom shall be preached in all the world for a 
witness to all nations,' and 'After a loner time 
the Lord of those servants cometh, and reck- 
oned! with them,' Matt. xxiv. 14; xxv. 19; but 
it is difficult ot see the bearing of the texts 
upon the tribulation. The Holy Spirit certi- 
fies in many places that when the Lord Jesus 
Christ finally appears in manifested majesty, 
all the saints will appear with Him, Zech. xiv. 
5; 1 Thess. iii. 13; Jude 14, etc. There must 



158 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



be, therefore, an interval longer or shorter be- 
tween His coming for His people, and His 
coming with them. 

"Besides, it cannot be denied that He said 
again and again to His disciples, 'Watch, there- 
fore; for ye know not what hour your Lord 
doth come,' Matt. xxiv. 42; 'What I say unto 
you, I say unto all, Watch,' Mark xiii. 37; 
* Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, 
when He cometh, shall find watching/ Luke, 
xii. 37; 'If I go and prepare a place for you, I 
will come again, and receive you unto myself, 
that where I am, there ye may be also,' John 
xiv. 3; 'Surely I come quickly,' Rev. xxit. 20. 
There is not an intimation that we are to ex- 
pect any other event to precede and signal 
His advent, but to keep our eye intently fixed 
upon Himself, and our ear attentively listening 
for his approaching footsteps. If we postpone His 
return u?itil after the tribulation, it is useless to watch 
now; and all the hopes, and joys, and glories, 
and the meeting with our dead, and the cessa- 
tion of sorrow, and the sweetness of satisfied 
desire, must be put off to a future time." 



The Bible Scholar. 



CHAPTER XII. 



THE BIBLE SCHOLAR. 

any and many a time Dr. Brookes has 
been asked: "How did you obtain 
your mastery of the Scriptures?" His 
answer was to the point: 
"By studying it." 

His idea of Bible study, however, was 
very different from that of most men. So 
familiar was he with the Scriptures, that it has 
been said in all seriousness by admirers: "If 
all the Bibles were destroyed, Dr. Brookes 
could produce one from memory." 

On one occasion, while preaching at a 
conference in Asbury Park, New Jersey, the 
editor of a New York semi-religious publica- 
tion was present. He had heard of Dr. 
Brookes' marvellous power of quoting the 
Scriptures, and he determined to test it. 

On a note book, during the sermon, he 
jotted down every verse quoted. Utterly 

161 




162 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 

amazed, the man went to Dr. Brookes after 
the sermon, and pointed out that he had quoted 
verb, et lit., almost a hundred separate Bible 
texts; giving not only the words, but the chap- 
ter and verse. 

From his earliest youth Dr. Brookes was 
a Bible student. 

As a child he had been expected to learn 
and quote much Scripture; and his mother was 
scrupulously careful that the quotation was 
faultlessly exact. She held that to misquote 
in the slightest degree was something almost 
a sin. It was God's Word, she said, and must 
be studied, and repeated exactly, or not at all. 

(Alas, how would her soul be torn if she 
heard some of the wretched misquoting of the 
Scriptures — where any is quoted at all — in 
many pulpits, even Presbyterian pulpits, to- 
day! A sermon was heard by the writer in a 
St. Louis Presbyterian church, in 1897, in 
which the Savior was "quoted" as saying cer- 
tain words which no man, even with a magni- 
fying glass, can find in any portion of the New 
Testament.) 

The influence of that training was marked 
throughout Dr. Brookes' career. The Bible 
was his vade mecum. He pored over it. He, 
so to speak, absorbed it. He knew it, and he 



THE BIBLE SCHOLAR. 



163 



knew everything worth knowing that had 
been written about it. 

He kept himself thoroughly posted, too, 
as to the work of the destructive German crit- 
ics (and their servile American "Men Fri- 
days") whose hope of recognition and worldly 
success, in the former country — and to a grow- 
ing extent in our own— lies in their power to 
win notoriety, and gather about them a follow- 
ing. 

There have been certain deluded men 
who have ignorantly implied that Dr. Brookes 
knew little but the English Bible. 

It would not be charitable, though doubt- 
less true, to say that he could have taught 
them Hebrew, Greek and Latin. But it is 
only a simple fact to state that he was an ex- 
pert scholar in ancient languages. While in 
German and French he laid no claims to a 
profound study, as in the ancient tongues, yet 
he could easily read both those languages. He 
studied the German theological professors' 
,< sensation"-seeking utterances in the original, 
something which (let it be said under the rose) 
it is to be doubted if many of their subservient 
followers in American seminaries can do, with 
all their I'm-holier-than-thou air of philologic 
eruditeness. 



164 



JAMKS H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



This acknowledged champion of the Plain 
People's English Bible knew all that they did 
concerning the Bible in the original, and a 
great deal more, in numerous instances. Hav- 
ing delved deeply into the roots of words, and 
the textual study of men and times, he was 
fully equipped to battle with the destructive 
Biblical critics in their own camp. He saw 
through the pretensions of many alleged great 
textual scholars, and despised their lofty and 
exclusive assumption of sacred learning. 

His editorial utterances concerning some 
of them necessarily imply a deep and sincere 
feeling that they were untrue to their trust, 
and capable of doing great harm to the souls 
of simpler men and women, in whose eyes they 
seemed to be throwing dust by baseless as- 
sumptions. 

On blank pages of his Bibles, and 
on the margins of the printed pages, in 
small, perfect penmanship, he wrote down with 
the utmost care the rich results of his life-long 
labors. Only a photograph can adequately 
describe those marvellous "notes," and only 
the multitudes who "heard him gladly," and 
the greater multitudes who have read his books 
in many languages, know the value of them. 

To make himself certain as to the use of 



t f f., 



Believer's prospect beyond < ~&eai%: 
- ;/ 10 Always beaiing about in the body 
the dying of Iho Lord Jesus, that the life 6 
also of Jesus might be made manifest in 

' 11 For we which live arc' alway deli- 
vered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the 
' bfe also of Jesus might be made manifest 
in our mortal flesh. 
12 So then death' worketh in us, but 



life 



$c having the f 
according 



spirit* of faith, 
cn, I * believed, 
;cn; we also bc- 



_ __ Knowing* that he which raised up 
><?£."' the Lord Jesus, shall raise up us also by 
. ^T;tn-Jesuvand shall present us with you. 
r/ffVtfe 15 For all things' are for your sakes, 
(hat 'the abundant grace" might, through 
: '•"<- the thanksgiving of many, redound to the 
> ^ glory of GocL 

^<?y- 16 For which cause we* faint not; but 
1,3'td. though our outward man perish, yet the 
vyL/i^*anward» man is renewed day by day. 

f 17 For our' light aflliction, which is 
but for a moment, worketh for us a far 
try ' more exceeding and eternal weight of 

5 L 18 "While we look not at the things which 



„■ the things w,hich 

seen: 6 for the thin-as which are ei 
temporal j but the things which j 
seen are eternal. 

CHAPTER V. 



t j „ X OK we know, that if our earthly house 
wie£t»d lliuse. nf this tabernacle » were dissolved, we 



ija 7e a buiTding of God,_ 
'elinje made with hands, eternal ir 
»* V .- ■ 2 For in this wo groan. 

' 3 .he clothed upon with 



-heavens 
stly c 
r {an 



o7. a fj atnng to i>e clothed upon with ourjrouse 
rifu»« ; ( which is from heayenr^V;'' " ^ -,• ; ;. 
ts,-,., si ^•^•'•£> 3 If so bo that being clothed we shall 
*/■'»/, 'Uj) iv..' n ot be found naked. h. nsvi„o i>«A 

jtiy. f?.„, c-l , r .« ^ ". 4 For we that arc in t\u tabernacle do 
, J».< > , g V groan, being burdened : not for that we 
m.V-'A' would be unclothed, but clothed upon, 
i /ut/n t....that mortality? might, be swallowed up 
tih, r>.-,.rot Kk. lifl b,.b life - 
' v :■/ TirJilJ/^ ne f na *' fought.* ufl . f°_ r 



thing is God, who also hath 



given unto us the earnest ' ot the apirnvrecwi 
tyhr.sfrr g Therefore toe are always confident, 
C'ttefti knowing that, whilst we aro at homo in 
vvW£ Him the bodv, we are abscut from the Lord : 
.v. h-c\. />•> 7 (For we- walk by faith, not by sight :) 
■ fUl3t b/, . 8 We arc confident, I say^ and willing' 
t uA^ rather to be absent from the body, and to 
' V'i — be present with the Lord. H: we cit/y I at it 
Upus, 9 Wherefore we *J labour, that, whether 
khtnue err present or absent, we may be accepted of 
bevwii- Lim. JT-'JZX.xv.ty; /<?/)• /X.I?. 
> unUTi'iui! 10 For wc' must all appear before the 
)e/ie\ic?s. judgmen t scat of Clirist; that every one 

* 7c-,', J- t to iuay receive" the things done in his body, 
r.-j-.V^.c - according to that he hath done, whether 
'ie bvJ.f', il begooa or bad. &e>w-n>» JuJimTf 

11 Knowing therefore" the teTror*"of 

• i» "cu . the Lord, we pcrsuad' 
'a made manifest unto G 



.refer.*.' 

gP. «« , ^ £ *nut,v.zux .zs ; x„J: Ac. v,„ ),z 'h ■ /jf.r,.v. 9 ^,^„i v.n ■ B*. 'U of*.* >J«e 
*-:--.~.,jy,;> V/»- / J; '; ' :?>v/ ijs f /, , / : .u'{m.'if.rrti*** v JJ r/« l>,J,,s tu f?» c 



trust also 

12 For we' commend not ourselyes i C bap. 3. 
neniu unto rou, but givo you occasion-to- -#«i e 
clory on our belialf, thjt-« TBay'TiaTe och.11.1 
somewhat to fl7wjcer-them which glory 
" appcaraneov-aTidnot in heart. 

13 For whether we be beside" ourseh 
il is to God : or whether we be sober, 
i.<for your cause. ITtlJ-f-: Ct*i %. 
«™.H For the love of Clinsl' cons(rain ( 

believers in //,« },M,,.e,.l 



' Ga. 6. 17. 
: r , J ) . I« 

:Ro. 5.15. 
IRo. 14.7. 9 



Job 33. 23. 

Mai. 2. 7. 

Ep. 6. 20. 
■ Ro. 8. 18,34. 
Hs.53.6,9,12 

Oa. 3. 1«. 

1 Pe.2.22,24 

■Ro. 6. 19. 
• He. 11.1. 



(or, in tost- 

"/\ Co. 16.63. 
10.' 

■ Ep. 1. 14. 
»Ep.6.11,4c. 

[; • = 

c.7ohn7.12,47 



Ep.2.21,Z2 



Ministry of the Apostles. 
us; because we thus judge, that if i 
died for all, then c were all dead: aLtso d i 

15 And that he died for aU, that they J ,jf g 
which liye should not henceforth livo 



r„ HrJCU'.irey 
Jf tenet. ■ 



icn live snouia not nencciorto. nvo „ w i,^,,,, selC 
o themselves, but unto him which died . . u< r 
them, and rose again. u > . o 1 e- r .- Ilt*< . Siu^nd. objtet-. 

16 Wherefore henceforth know Are no^' ««J ""d" *"«<■ 
an after the flesh: ye», though we have- 1 * irGe.,17i.s 

/chap 13 9. known Christ after the flesh, yet now" 1 * '"'&-'">■ j*n- '. 

henceforth know we Aim no noieJ"^ '•<•<• ' <"'-' -V Nt. 

17 Therefore if any man be in Chri3t,i/^'- I ' > '' "■«>•/£. 
^Ae w a new c^catu^c.■ ^ old things are^^* ' ^ <? 
passed away; behold/ ail things are be- <? 3 "<- a tt - nt - '5*^4 y 
come new.>.„v, r .•/...•..■>.. . .?,Vr >.> PM«AH(*.i»« 

18 And all things are of God, who hath^"' j «" ri.>-e •?"< 
reconciled 1 us tonimself by Jesus Christ, w^y* •■ye/i.»« 
and hath giyen to us the ministr? of re-^^ °f &e * ■ 
conciliation; « rt a r i«j.,t. t. j f7m t ».st /,'„,//„; t". 

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, re- /fr-. f , s .ti ; -. 
conciling the world unto himself, not im. U/g>W tfreeen; . 

1 Co. 16.' 68. puting their trespasses" unto them; and e-LLsftn. j 
l{4t ^ Jiath-Ycommitted 



conciliation.' 



the word, of i 



20 Now then we are ambassadors' ior-^ foreiei.tmnzstsi ' " 
Christ, as though God did beseech V o* ant <~}™l ! ** tlK * hi 
by us : we pray you in Christ's stead, be*"'';'" J*"* 4 * 

ye reconciled to GocU)<""i"tf'>'" »«v«*j li jr.e^ii.: 

21 For he' hath nAde him ro 09 sin larOhrnt- jMjjZi 
us, who knew no sin; that we might be J'/i-we begun, 
made" the righteousness of God in him. ?- iohtrt\.r»*eM ,\,7i0.i 
-,, T CHAPTER TI. ■ _ ' 
WE then, as workers" together mthOo-wn Iter wi 
him, beseech you also that ye receiyo not^o*. '<?«. "' 7 

the grace of God in vain.' w, .TiMl v T../i ef X<r 

2 (For he saith, I" llaye heari thee mT'ivtJJ'rts-" <i< 
a time accepted, and in the day of saJya-/£ eltnst.IsiXUx-S. 
t ion hare I succoured thee : behold, now a ■ 1 J. //ft ft ^ 
« the accepted time; behold, now is the WA iiA ti.^old- 
day of salvation.)!?) jpAe/J infea/jiwiri niio<»e/» >-Ji" 

3 Giving no offence' in any thing, thattSjuJ'^ '" n ; £ ' c 
theminifltry be not blamed: ^b^fui.iije in dec^y f s. IlJ- c 

4 But in aJWAi»fw 5 approTing' cmi-~St**>, t° li t 3 ^:"*. 
selves as tho ministers' of God, in muoh.S'.. "■• '3» A 
patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in iPil.'euet wli/'ftun. 

tuPuV.tr, ^f.^.s ■ih-.fts Ch„JUio„v.t..h 

imprisonments, fin tu-7 7,,„,,,il5 ' 
nwatchings, iniaetingB; JVv/,, ^4/ jffive 

r by knowledge, by long- JW r. <v 5 , j( 

g, by kindness.. by the Holy GhoBt,iy ^2 Ar /, 7 * ;. 
nnfoigned,^ IVj/7/(o..j;c5j Tjs l t ,.*eji, j-e ..,sj 



distresses; J* tetsr.. 

5 In stripes/ in 
jpulte, in labours, i 

6 By pureness. 



honom, by erd JvJ/' /'/^KV. V„ r 
: as deceTyers,' 1 j/, r ; J 



7 By the word of troth,* by the power tl5/fm> i 
of God, by the araionr« 01 righteonanes«(£j^, : s xi./K? - 
on the right hand and on the left, 

8 By honour and dishonour, by < 
report and good report: as deceiye 
andyertroe; 1 Tt,< jf.fy C.tt 1, M, 

9 As unknown,' antT yet *w ell known ; w Vv^j. alj?,.ft K 
as dying, and behold, we live: as chast-/vrw,, oCOoL 
ened,' and not killed ; v A y . , , . ,.'eje 

10 As sorrowful, yet ahvay rejoicing ; V1 Hn,<n etit - 
as poor, yej; making many rich: as kaying v .j- ,^■.-,,1,1 
nothing, and yet possessing all things.' ■ v ' 

ll-O'ys Corinthians, our mouth is open ve 
unWJpu, our heart" is enlarged. . ' 

12 Ye are not straitened m ns, "bnt jtf' 
are straitened in your own bowels. ' 

13 Now for 1 



rence in ;ho samaV^ ehisfin.l e I » 
, hildrenj be ye als^ fo»*/l.), e fr 
enlarged, ivai H-i b* /«J rfi Titr,- ete 

14 Be ye» not tmeonally yoked togethft^ jtf' ■ •<■• >>«/-!r..- 
with nnbelieyers: for what feJlowship£f V ^«ixWI>e<it 
hath righteousness with nnnghteousness?^ v „ „ „ km 
and what communion hath (light witlftv^ ,[.Hs T-\ 
darknees ? 11 1 f7 1 ■ 1 1 U La Sls-j 6 t , s. Ci<L vvi /frj.. <? t - 
16 And what concorcrhath Christ with^<.'^», e,,L- Aims 
Belkd ? or what part hath he that believ>? tit. 3 

eth with aninfidel?^jju^ iiirtile/nv (r invcr/* 
'end what agreement hath the tem-, - , , „, .* ' 
God witridols? for ye' are the'^^'^"' /- 
11, Hit, J nee,, t.e.U V/0 ,T3-o7,,x.v (O. , ' ir - ,„ 

f\<r,„ vi„ ./,Z,f3 34 i /jf.,„v.f .lOf/fire IV.I7 .£>*■.,/<. cF>Tu J..J«e 



4 giaij&a. /. 



Fac-simile of a Page of Dr. Brookes' Bible Notes- 



THE BIBLE SCHOLAR. 



165 



any one word, he thought nothing of reading 
the entire Bible through for that particular pur- 
pose. If the word appeared three times that 
fact he established for himself. He believed in 
being his own concordance. (It should be added 
here, that he was urged scores of times to 
write a concordance.) 

It was often his custom to read the Bible 
through three or four times during a summer 
vacation. 

When he wished to fortify himself as to 
any doctrine from the Bible, he, of course, 
read the Bible through with such especial end 
in view. The passages were carefully marked. 
When he reached the end of Revelations, 
every text bearing on the topic was at his 
tongue's end. He had gone to the court of 
last resort, and all was settled. 

The results of that tremendous labor 
would then be written down, briefly and beau- 
tifully, in a portion of his Bible. 

Dr. Brookes was constantly urging men 
to study first the Bible itself, and then the 
books about the Bible. 

He believed too many preachers, young 
and old, held the books "about the Bible" to 
be far too important. 

Yet he was a great bookman, and his 



166 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



library was a "thing of beauty." The four 
walls of his large study were crowded with 
theological lore, and to the day of his last ill- 
ness he kept close watch on new works, and 
secured all the worthy ones. 

THE NIAGARA CONFERENCE. 

In natural connection with the study of 
the Scriptures, and the championing of pre- 
millennial views, came Dr. Brookes' promi- 
nence in the Niagara Conference movement. 

This gathering began in a small informal 
meeting of evangelists who had planned to 
spend their summer outing in the same place. 
They wished to meet with Dr. Brookes when 
he was at leisure, and take counsel with him. 
Soon after,others asked for the same privilege. 
The success of that gathering was remarkable 
from the first. Meetings were held at differ- 
ent resorts. Finally, Niagara-on-the-Lake 
was chosen as the permanent rallying point. 

Dr. Brookes was president of the associ- 
ation which of necessity grew out of the infor- 
mal gathering of a few kindred spirits. Special 
arrangements were made for the accommoda- 
tion of the friends who met there togeth- 
er, and a suitable pavilion was erected by the 
local hotel company on a hill overlooking 
Lake Ontario. Here representative ministers, 



THE BIBLE SCHOLAR. 



167 



evangelists, professors and learned laymen 
met and discussed Biblical themes. 

As Dr. Brookes often said and printed: 
''Men's views are not wanted; we are here to 
study God's Word." 

Those who attended held in common the 
pre-millennial belief; and the discussion of the 
many phases of "That Blessed Hope" was 
always a leading feature of the summer's ses- 
sion. Yet there was no hard and fast rule, 
and all hearers were gladly welcomed. De- 
nominational barriers were leveled. Men and 
women of every creed met on one common 
ground — that of love for the searching of the 
Scriptures. 

Many warm friendships were made at this 
charming spot. Among those near and dear 
to Dr. Brookes in this conference work were 
Dr. William G. Moorehead of the Theological 
Seminary at Xenia, Ohio; Dr. H. M. Par- 
sons, of Toronto; Dr. W. J. Erdman, Dr. 
C. I. Scofield, J. M. Stiner, Robert U. Garrett, 
Major Whittle, G. C. Needham, and many 
others. 

Special memorial services were held dur- 
ing the summer of 1897, m honor of the dead 
leader. Friends present wrote that it was an 
occasion not to be forgotten. 



168 



JAMISS H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR, 



BIBLE WORK AT SUMMER SCHOOLS. 

With his work at Niagara Conference, his 
many books, addresses and published articles 
on the Bible, there is naturally recalled the 
work in the Moody Summer School at North- 
field, and similar labor in the west, at the 
Young Men's Christian Association at Lake 
Geneva, Wis., in Kansas, and elsewhere. 

Mr. Moody and Dr. Brookes renewed 
their acquaintanceship a short time before Dr. 
Brookes' death. The last time Dr. Brookes 
appeared in a public assemblage other than 
his own church, was at an afternoon Moody 
meeting in St. Louis. He led in prayer. 
Those who heard that prayer say they never 
heard anything like it. Mr. Moody referred 
to it touchingly in a letter he wrote to the 
stricken family after Dr. Brookes' translation. 

At Northfield, at Geneva, or wherever he 
was, he was always a lion among the young 
men. 

He was so manly, so vigorous, such a 
' 'hard-hitter" at men and things he held to be 
wrong; so gifted, so finished, so positive of 
what he said concerning the Bible, that he took 
them by storm. 

To say that he delighted them would be 
hardly expressing it strongly enough. He re- 



THE BIBtE SCHOLAR. 



169 



ceived ovation after ovation. There was even 
an effort made once to haul him about in a 
carriage by young men power. 

His influence on college youth met in 
those summer schools, cannot be estimated. 
A leading College Young Men's Christian 
Association official once told a member of the 
family that to Dr. Brookes' Bible readings 
during a certain summer, he laid the cause of 
a great revival of religious interest in a num- 
ber of the largest colleges of the land during 
the following fall. His own quickening, too, 
for greater service, the officer laid to the same 
influence. This young man now has a world- 
wide influence in the College Association work. 

Dr. Brookes was especially happy in con- 
ducting the "question box" at such gatherings. 
His marvellous memory then showed forth in 
all its might. With never a look at the Bible 
he would answer questions as fast as they could 
be read; quoting one, two, three or five verses 
to ' 'clinch" each answer. 

His manly defense of the Inerrant Bible, 
and the multitudinous reasons he gave "for 
the faith that was in him," powerfully influ- 
enced the young men. He "straightened out" 
hundreds of picked young men who had gone 
astray under the enervating influences of pro- 



170 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



fessors and ministers whose knees were weak, 
and whose minds were foggy on the question 
of Inspiration of the Scriptures. 

It is impossible to do more than hint at all 
Dr. Brookes did as a Bible student; and as 
preacher, teacher and author, who made the 
Bible his summa summarum. 

His whole life must be viewed from the 
stand-point of Bible study, to obtain anything 
like an adequate conception of Dr. Brookes. 



The Author. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



THE AUTHOR. 

r. Brookes was urged into authorship. 
It was in 1 864 that his first work, 4 4 How 
to be saved," appeared. 
The circumstances which led to the 
launching of that modest little craft on the sea 
of literature, makes interesting reading to-day. 

Miss Susan McBeth, a noted missionary 
among the Indians and soldiers, who was 
laboring among the regular army men ("my 
boys" she called them,) at Jefferson Barracks, 
near St. Louis, went one day to Dr. Brookes 
with a request: 

"I came here to-day as an inquirer. I 
am constantly asked puzzling questions by the 
soldiers concerning the way of salvation. I 
am troubled, often, to know how to make my 
answers clear and plain enough. Now I 
have come to you to repeat the questions put 
to me, and to listen to your answers." 

373 




174 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



Dr. Brookes willingly granted her request. 
When she had run the gamut of the queries, 
and had heard the clear, unhackneyed, unpro- 
fessional — so to speak — answers, she begged 
to be allowed to bring "some of her boys" to 
hear him go over those questions and answers 
again. 

He agreed to do as she wished; and in a 
few days the study was filled with young 
soldiers, accompanied by Miss McBeth and J. 
W. Mclntire, a St. Louis publisher of that 
day. The lady had brought him along with 
an "ulterior motive" which did her credit. 

At the close of the informal gathering 
Mr. Mclntire said that he wanted the speaker 
to write out what he had said, and he would 
make of it a book. Dr. Brookes demurred, 
but finally, after argument, the publisher secur- 
ed an affirmative answer. 

Soon after, "How to be Saved," "by J. 
H. B." appeared. It was a marvellous success 
from every standpoint, including the publish- 
er's. Edition after edition was sold. It was 
translated into German, Portugese, French 
and Spanish. It was widely circulated among 
the soldiers of both armies during our late 
war. The good it did cannot be reckoned up 
in this world. 



THE AUTHOR. 



175 



In the preface of this, the first of his long 
list of published works, the author showed the 
clear, practical thinking and lucid writing 
which marked all his books. 

Selections from it are here quoted; for 
this book marked an epoch in Dr. Brookes' 
career. Heretofore the pulpit had been his 
sole field of labor. But from now on he was 
continually forced to write, and the world has 
been enriched thereby. 

"My friends," he wrote, "I have some 
things to say to you richly worthy of your at- 
tention, and full of interest and happiness to 
you. if cordially received. 

"By the help of the Divine Spirit, I pro- 
pose to address you on the all-important sub- 
ject of religion, and to tell you how you may 
be saved. I propose to address you in plain 
and simple language; for I have learned from 
my own experience that, notwithstanding the 
instruction we may have received in the family 
and in the sanctuary, concerning the great 
truths of the Bible, when we come to feel a 
personal interest in those truths we need some 
one to expound unto us 'the way of God more 
perfectly.' 

"We may be convinced that in some man- 
ner we are to be saved by the Lord Jesus 



176 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR, 



Christ, if saved at all, and that we are requir- 
ed to believe on Him; but what it is to believe 
on Him, and why we must believe on Him, 
and when we must believe on Him, are ques- 
tions about which we may be entirely ignor- 
ant." 

A little later is a bit of striking reminis- 
cence of his own youth: 

''I felt that I would be willing to seek 
Jesus if He were only on the earth, as He was 
1800 years ago; but I read in my Bible that 
He 'is passed into the heavens,' and I was 
constrained to cry out like Job, 'Oh, that I 
knew where I might find Him ! that I might 
come even unto His seat ! I would order my 
cause before Him, and fill my mouth with 
arguments.' I felt that I would be willing to 
go beyond the sea, and to visit the City of 
Jerusalem, and to kneel on the very spot 
where the cross was erected, if it could be 
pointed out; but I was satisfied that this would 
not make me a Christian; and so many 
months passed away in perplexity and distress, 
because there was no one whom I met to 
direct me to the 4 Lamb of God, which taketh 
away the sin of the world/ 

"Now, I want to avoid as much as possi- 
ble, all figurative language * * * and to ex- 



THE AUTHOR. 



177 



plain the plan of salvation clearly:* * * " 

How little the author of this modest pre- 
face, written, as he supposed, for a few ignor- 
ant but earnest soldiers, knew of the thousands 
and lens of thousands who were to read those 
lines ! 



"The Way Made Plain," was his second 
work, which was issued in 1871. The manu- 
script and copyright were given outright to the 
American Sunday-school Union. Edition 
after edition was issued. The prefatory 
words to 4 'The Way Made Plain" are very 
characteristic: 

"Those who carefully read the first thir- 
teen verses of the tenth chapter of Romans 
cannot fail to perceive the logical order 
and marvellous clearness with which the Holy 
Ghost there sets forth the Way of Life. It is 
the aim of this little book to follow that order, 
and in some feeble measure to reflect that 
clearness. Hence the Scriptures are closely 
followed at every step of the argument, be- 
cause they alone can guide our feet in the path 
of prayer. 

"Frequently has the author, when dealing 
with inquiring souls, undertaken a simple ex- 
position of this instructive and interesting 



178 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



passage and often has the Lord been pleased 
to own it in imparting light to the darkened 
understanding and comfort to the troubled 
heart of the anxious sinner. To His blessing 
and favor it is now commended, with the ear- 
nest prayer that, as sent forth by the Ameri- 
can Sunday- School Union, it may be more 
greatly owned in his service." 

HIS VOLUMINOUS WRITINGS. 

From this time on, almost to the close of 
his life, Dr. Brookes continued to reach a 
great audience by means of the printed page. 
It requires care to guard against the omission 
of any of his works,, so numerous were they, 
and little more can be done here than to name 
them all. 

"The Bible Under Fire Series," con- 
sisted of "Fifty Reasons for Believing the 
Bible"; "Historical Evidences as to the 
Truth of the Bible " ; "The Bible Iner- 
rant " ; "It is the Word of God " ; "Christ 
amd the Bible Stand or Fall Together." 

"Chaff and Wheat; a Defense of Ver- 
bal Inspiration." 

"Coming and Appearing of our Lord." 

"May Christians Dance ?" 

"Outlines of the Books of the Bible." 

"Stumbling Blocks Removed," a "book 



THE AUTHOR. 



179 



designed to meet the doubts and perplexities 
frequently found to exist in the minds of 
honest inquirers after the Truth as it is in 
esus. 

"From Death unto Life, or The Sinner 
Saved," 

"The Holy Spirit." 
"Did Jesus Rise ? " 

Among the later and larger books were 
these: 

"Israel and the Church." 

Concerning this book the editor of the 
Episcopal Recorder wrote: "Dr. Brookes has 
conferred many benefits upon the church by 
his writings, and he has in this book done 
good service by emphasizing the Biblical dis- 
tinction between the Jews, as the peculiar peo- 
ple of God in their national capacity, and the 
Church consisting of the whole body of be- 
lievers united with Christ by a living faith." 

"Is/the Bible True?" 

Of ^this a well-known Western minister 
said: "I can only say that I know of no more 
forcible and convincing work of its size, in vin- 
dication of the Word of God and the divinity 
of the character and work of the Son of 
Man." 

Especially noted was his "Maranatha; 



180 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



or the Lord Cometh," a work of 554 pages. 
Among books of the pre-millennialists it stands 
facile princeps. Edition after edition has been 
demanded on both sides of the Atlantic. 

The late Henry Morehouse, the noted 
English evangelist, said of it publicly: "In 
no book outside the New Testament have I 
seen this truth more sweetly or clearly shown 
forth than in Maranatha, by Dr. Brookes." 

"Till He Come." This book is held by 
many pre-millennialists to be one of the strong- 
est, as well as simplest, representations of the 
Scriptures on the Second Coming of the Lord 
obtainable. It was designed especially for the 
inquirer and the doubter. 

"Mystery of Suffering." Its publish- 
er has stated: "No record has been kept 
of the letters and messages received from the 
suffering children of God who have been com- 
forted and strengthened by this little book. 
One lady who has spent years upon a bed of 
pain, writes that next to her Bible she prizes 
it above all the books she has ever read, and 
commends it most earnestly to sick and sor- 
rowing souls." 

Having been sorely and peculiarly afflict- 
ed himself, Dr. Brookes knew how to comfort 
others compelled to drink of the cup of sorrow. 



THE AUTHOR. 



181 



A later book, and one of especial promi- 
nence, was "The Christ; A Study of His 
Person, Works and Claims." It is interest- 
ing to glance at a few from the many words of 
praise which representative editors lavished 
upon this book. 

"The Spirit of the Master," says one, 
"breathes on every page." 

Other expressions are: "It is an impres- 
sive representation of a great theme." 
"Worthy of warm commendation." "Sure to 
do good work in presenting the unanswerable 
proofs of the Divine Redeemer of a lost 
world." 

"Well named, for the Christ and nothing 
but the Christ is its theme from cover to cover. 
The earnest Christian Bible student and min- 
ister alike will appreciate it." 

"We rejoice that so clear a statement 
has been put forth in a form so popular, and 
hope it may be blessed to many in helping 
them to apprehend the person and work of 
our Lord." 

"If it be true, as has been charged, that 
modern sermons have too little of Christ in 
them, then this book ought to be in the hands, 
and its truths and sentiments in the heart and 
head, of every preacher of the age. It is a 



182 



JAMKS H. BROOKES: A MKMOIR. 



Christ-full book. The first chapter is worth 
the price of the whole." 

THE LAST BOOKS. 

Three books appeared within the past 
three years. Of these, Dr. Brookes wrote: 
"These three books contain the last testimony 
which the author wishes to leave to the 
thoughtful considerations of those who believe 
in the Word of God." 

These books were: "God Spake all 
these Words;" a defense of the Inerrant 
Bible. 

"He is not Here." (Written to establish 
the literal and physical resurrection of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, and to prove that the 
denial of the fact so essential to Christianity 
is a denial of every fundamental truth of the 
Gospel. Such denial, whether made by 
Strauss, Renan, Ingersoll, or a certain class of 
Higher Critics, is sheer infidelity." — Dr. 
Brookes. ) 

The third was a revised and enlarged 
fifth edition of "Till He Come," renamed "I 
am Coming." This work was published in 
Glasgow, Scotland. 

Concerning "God Spake," the New York 
Observer said: "The Rev. J. H. Brookes, D. 
D., of St. Louis, Mo., is a devout student of 



THE; author. 



183 



God's Word and has published a number of 
volumes helpful to the true understanding of 
its truths. * '* This book tears a good many 
high-flown criticisms of the Bible to tatters. 
It is definite and clear in its statements, terse 
and straightforward in style, and simple and 
convincing throughout." 

The Herald and Presbyter } of Cincinnati, saw 
fit to say of it: "The name of the author is a 
sufficient guarantee of its worth. No man is 
more able and constant in the defense of the 
truth. The book deserves a wide circulation, 
especially among the rank and file of the 
church, who have not time nor facility for 
critical study. It is a simple, clear and ringing 
defense of the Scriptures." 

Literally hundreds of other such critiques 
of Dr. Brookes' works might be quoted. But 
it is needless. Those who read his books — 
and they are numbered by tens of thousands — 
long ago made up their minds that his deep 
thoughts, expressed in pellucid, straightfor- 
ward English, made them volumes to be 
eagerly sought and kept at hand. 

Dr. Brookes was a poor financier in liter- 
ary matters. The money made on his books 
went into other pockets than his. The copy- 



184 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



rights of some he freely gave away. He wrote 
to do others, not himself, good. Had he 
troubled himself overmuch about profits and 
royalties, he might not have been able to write 
as he did. His eye was single. 

It would take a whole page to write down 
simply the titles of his hundreds of published 
and tremendously circulated tracts. 

One man, W. W. Waters, 706 Penn 
avenue, Pittsburg, Pa., always keeps large 
editions of 140 different tracts of Dr. Brookes' 
constantly in stock for sale or free distribution. 
The plates of others have been lost through a 
change of publishers. 

At a low estimate, he has written from 
250 to 300 complete tracts, averaging six 
pages. 

His tracts are as different from the ordi- 
nary dreary tract, as his sermons were from 
the ordinary sermon. That is high but just 
praise. 



The Editor. 



CHAPTER XIV. 
THE EDITOR. 

FT or twenty- three years Dr. Brookes edit- 
ed a monthly magazine, The Truth. 
He issued it because there was a de- 
mand for such a means of reachine his ever- 
widening circle of listeners; some far overseas. 

There was (to use a colloquialism) "no 
money in it" for him. In twenty-three years 
of editing he never collected twenty-three 
cents in salary. He was actually out of pocket 
for manuscript paper and postage used. He 
gave his services to the journal gladly. 

The steps which led up to the founding of 
the magazine, in 1874, are fully set forth in the 
salutatory. This "Introduction" shows the 
intense and far-seeing convictions Dr. Brookes 
had. at that early dav, against those who were 
then beginning the assault on the inerrancy of 
the Scriptures. 

The assailants of the Bible were compar- 
atively modest in these days, but he anticipa- 

187 



188 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



ted what was coming, and prepared to buckle 
on his armor. 

Alas ! what a true prophet he was. 
Several years before Dr. Brookes' death, 
Union Seminary, founded on the money of 
those who honored the whole Bible as the 
Word of God, was led off to dishonor by a 
Briggs; previous to his translation Dr. Brookes 
heard Presbyterian weaklings squeak their 
little second-hand tirades against Moses and 
Isaiah; he was not spared the knowledge of an 
Abbott who shook his cap of motley and 
chimed his jester's bells as he "preached" 
(save the mark ! ) in a Brooklyn pulpit — or 
should it not be called a Brooklyn circus? 

And Dr. Brookes lived to read — occasion- 
ally, from curiosity — a New York periodical, 
an alleged Presbyterian journal, as it frothed 
at the mouth in its impotent rage against good 
men and true who believed that those who 
gave the lie daily to the Standards of the 
Presbyterian Church to which they had sub- 
scribed, had no right to be teaching in, and 
drawing fat salaries from, Presbyterian Theo- 
logical seminaries. 

This "Introduction" also explains and 
justifies his straight-from-the-shoulder style of 
editing, shown through the twenty-three years 



THE EDITOR. 



189 



of journalistic labors. To quote from The 
Truth, Vol. I, No. i: 

''After much anxious reflection and ear- 
nest prayer, it has been determined by a few 
Christian friends to publish a paper under the 
title here announced. The name has not 
been selected as indicating an arrogant as- 
sumption of special acquaintance with the 
truth, but simply as expressive of our aim in 
seeking to set forth the manifold glories of 
Him who alone could say, T am the way, 
THE TRUTH, and the fife.'— John xiv. 6. 

"Alas ! too well do we know that the 
rays of divine light coming from the Sun of 
Righteousness never reach the human mind 
without more or less refraction from their di- 
rect course by passing through the dense 
medium of 'the flesh'; and the humiliating dis- 
coveries of our own ignorance, that are daily 
made in the study of the sacred Scriptures, 
exclude all boasting in the attempt to teach 
others even 'the first principles of the oracles 
of God.' Heb. v. 12. 

"Not a step, therefore, can we take, ex- 
cept in the entire dependence upon One of 
whom our Lord said to His disciples, 'When 
He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will 
guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak 



190 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that 
shall He speak: and He will show you things 
to come. He shall glorify me: for He shall 
receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.' 
John xvi. 13, 14. 

"Rut just because of this dependence upon 
the Holy Ghost, we cannot shrink from the 
work to which we have been summoned in the 
face of our own desire, whatever our sense of 
personal unfitness for the task. It is a sure 
sign of being occupied about self, when we de- 
cline a service forced upon us, as this has 
been, as the plea of inability. Blessed be 
God, He does not call us to serve Him upon 
the ground of our strength, but of His suffi- 
cient grace; and unless we are filled with 
thoughts of ourselves, or with distrust of His 
promised aid, we need not refuse to stand in a 
place of testimony or at a post of duty, how- 
ever arduous the labor it ma}' require, or how- 
ever serious the responsibility it may involve. 

Hence w r e go forth unaffected by the 
hope of success, unmoved by the fear of 
failure, to join other witnesses of Jesus who 
are using the press to make known The 
Truth. If He is pleased to own the paper 
He will raise up friends to carry it forward to 
the accomplishment of its mission; if He does 



THE EDITOR. 



191 



not need it, gladly will we retire into silence. 
Many, no doubt, will regard it as rash to ven- 
ture upon a new periodical at present, when it 
is well known that a number of the journals 
already established throughout the church at 
large are struggling for bare existence, and 
when the financial condition of the country is 
so disturbed that there is a general complaint 
of poverty, mingled with a general apprehen- 
sion of still greater reverses. None, however, 
who are informed, will deny that publications 
of an infidel and grossly immoral character 
are increasing to an appalling extent; and the 
cail is urgent upon all who love our Lord to 
resist promptly and resolutely these agents of 
Satan, and to stand, having their 'loins girt 
about with truth,' taking in their hand 'the 
sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of 
God.' Eph. vi. 1 7. 

"Never before, perhaps, were the servants 
of the evil one more busy and zealous in dis- 
seminating positive error, and, what is equally 
or even more dangerous, perverted truth. It 
would be painful enough if these efforts were 
confined to the avowed enemies of Christ; but 
we are shocked by the indubitable proofs, 
constantly furnished, that infidelity is not only toler- 
ated, but cherished and openly advocated by those who 



192 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



are followed as burning and shining lights of the 
Church. 

"A recent number of a paper conducted 
by 'the most popular preacher in America/ 
obtaining by the fame of his name an immense 
circulation, and wielding by the force of his 
genius a potent influence over tens of thous- 
ands, speaking of the sacred Scriptures, does 
not hesitate to affirm that 'if anything in them 
does not approve itself to the reason and 
moral sense as true, it is to be rejected.' The 
boldest skeptic can not say anything more than 
this, and the most determined skeptic, who re- 
tains a decent respect for the opinions of Chris- 
tians, can not say anything worse than this. 
Sentiments no less impious are heard with increasing 
frequency from pulpits that have been regarded as 
eva?igelical \ in derogation of the supreme authority of 
God's Word, doubt of Christ's true and proper 
divinity, or in contempt of His atoning death 
and imputed righteousness as the sole ground 
upon which we can be saved. Even where 
such sentiments are not openly proclaimed we 
may easily learn by a little inquiry that they 
are held by multitudes in the church, whose 
faith has yielded to the claims of shallow 
humanitarianism, and fled at the first approach 
of 'Science, falsely so-called'. Tim. vi. 20. 
"It is not the time, therefore, for a trum- 



THE EDITOR. 



193 



pet lifted for The Truth to give an uncertain 
sound. And it is proper to inform our readers 
that we shall maintain, according to the meas- 
ure of ability God may impart, the plenary 
and verbal inspiration of the sacred Scriptures; 
the divine dignity of the person of his eternal 
Son; the utter ruin and death in sin of the 
whole human race, as born into the world; 
our indispensable need of the Holy Spirit to 
produce the new birth, to impart faith, to 
dwell in the believer, to unite him to our risen 
Lord in the heavenly places; and a full, free, 
present salvation, founded, not upon our works 
and feelings to any degree, but entirely upon 
the finished work of Christ, who 'by Himself 
purged our sins.' Heb. i. 3. 

"We shall also strive to comfort doubting 
and desponding Christians by leading them 
into the assurance of their acceptance, not 
through the fancied discovery of some good- 
ness in themselves, but through belief of God's 
testimony; urging them to a higher practical 
holiness by walking in the light of unclouded 
fellowship with the Father, and with His Son, 
and by 'looking for that blessed hope, and the 
glorious appearing of the great God and our 
Savior Jesus Christ,' Titus ii ( 13. 

"As it is our aim to encourage diligent 



194 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



and devout study of the Word of Life, brief 
and plain expositions of Scripture will be giv- 
en, with special reference to the elucidation of 
passages commonly regarded as obscure in 
meaning, or difficult of comprehension. When 
to this is added that the little ones will not be 
forgotten; that inquirers will be entreated to 
believe on the Lord Jesus Christ without a 
moment's delay, or preparation of any kind, 
and that unbelievers will be reminded of One 
who is willing to save instantly and completely, 
and able to send them 'away into everlasting 
punishment,' Matt. xxv. 46, our purposes will 
be readily understood." 

HIS ASSOCIATES. 

Edward Bredell, deceased, then an active 
Presbyterian layman, was the proprietor. 
Their office was at 212 North 5th street. 
There a complete stock of Dr. Brookes' and 
similar books, Bibles and tracts were kept- 
Later, the periodical was removed to Chicago, 
when it was issued for a time by the Gospel 
Publishing Co. Finally, it was secured by 
Fleming H. Revell, who issued it up to the 
number following Dr. Brookes' death. 

It was then sold by Mr. Revell to the 
^Watchword" the magazine the late Dr. 
Gordon, of Boston, founded. The twin pub- 



THE EDITOR. 



195 



lication has since appeared under the title of 
"The Watchword And Truth ." owned and edited 
by Robert Cameron, 

On almost every line of The Truth Dr. 
Brookes' striking personality was in evidence. 
He wrote the larger part of each number, 
though he had valued contributing editors: 
W. J. Erdman, D. D., Prof. W. G. Moorhead, 
H. M. Parsons, D. D., Rev. C. I. Schoneld 
and Rev. G. C. Needham. 

A number of pungent editorial para- 
graphs, in which he smote and spared not was 
a feature of each issue. When stirred up to 
righteous indignation by what seemed to be 
an assault on the Bible, he would pen lines of 
rebuke that glowed. 

But in the very same issue there would, 
almost always, appear some tender piece of 
writing from the same pen, full of comfort to 
many bruised hearts. He was a many-sided 
editor, as he was a man. 

DR. BROOKES AND HIS CRITICS. 

Those brethren who criticised Dr. Brookes' 
editorial utterances as being too sharp, and 
who occasionally remonstrated with him pri- 
vately, were sometimes told by Dr. Brookes 
the following homely old tale: 

"There was once a mild-mannered old 



196 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



farmer, who saw some boys in his favorite 
apple tree, stealing fruit," Dr. Brookes 
would say. "He ran out and sought to rea- 
son with them, and politely invited them to 
dismount. They laughed at him. 

"The old man then got a trifle vexed and 
began to throw grass, in handfuls, at the de- 
predators. 

"But they did not mind grass, and still 
laughed at him. 

"Then he began throwing soft clods. 

"But that didn't 'phase' them. 

"Then patience ceased to be a virtue — 
and stones began to fly. 

"In a moment the boys were down and 
making tracks for the pike." 

Dr. Brookes would then add that he was 
sick and tired of seeing the defenders of the 
inspired Bible using soft words and feebly 
tossing grass at the semi-infidel seminary pro- 
fessors and writers who, with their silly flock 
of human sheep, were striving to vie with the 
beer soaked agnostics who labeled themselves 
"Theologians" in German University towns; 
and whose only hope of preferment is to stir 
up a sensation by going a little farther towards 
atheism than the next "Professor of Divinity." 

Dr. Brookes asserted that such men were 



THE EDITOR. 



197 



ruining souls. Towards such he felt it his 
Christian duty to hurl stones — not soft clods. 
And he hurled them straight, and with all the 
force of his strong right arm. 

His critics were also reminded as to what 
the magazine stood for and always had fought 
for: clear-cut conservatism. If they did not 
like it, they did not have to buy. He did not 
force it on any one. There were plenty who 
did want it. 

He never could see the justice of allow- 
ing the ultra liberal press to have full sway in 
its attacks on orthodoxy and ridicule for the 
orthodox; and then to see certain of the ortho- 
dox themselves holding up their hands in holy 
horror, because Ihe Truth lunged back at the 
scoffers with an equally sharp sword. 

Evidently the magazine suited his wide 
following; and certainly its fearless editor 
never changed his ways because of criticism, 
mild or sharp, both of which, like the poor, 
"were always with him." 

Many of the pages of the Truth were de- 
voted to the propagation and defense of the 
cause of pre-millennialism. Profound articles 
and series of articles were prepared by the 
editor on that theme so dear to him. 

It was, in a sense, too, the "organ" of 



198 JAMKS H. BROOKES: A MKMOIR. 

the Niagara Conference. One number, each 
year, was devoted to a complete report of the 
addresses and papers of that gathering. 

A large number of the yearly issues were 
also bound, and are, to day, cherished parts of 
many libraries in the land. 

THE TRUTH'S WIDE FIELD. 

The "field of the magazine was a wide 
one — the world. Though no "circulation 
swearer" was ever employed — no commercial 
advertising being printed — there was a goodly 
list of readers. Everywhere Dr. Brookes 
went, in the United States or England, he in- 
variably met people who said: "I know you 
well through The Truth. \ have taken it from 
Vol. I., No. i." 

A study of the circulation list showed a 
unique clientele of every denomination, and 
of every clime. Many of the "United Breth- 
ren" (that is, more or less "United" ) read it; 
many Presbyterians, Baptists, Reformed 
Episcopalians. The Roman Catholic Arch- 
bishop, Dr. Ryan, formerly of St. Louis, and 
Dr. Brookes were good friends. They often 
spent hours together in the editor's study. 
He greatly admired Dr. Brookes' editorials 
and other writings, and even circulated some 
of the books among his people. 



THE EDITOR. 



199 



(When on one occasion, certain Catholics 
tried to keep Dr. Brookes from the bedside of 
a dying man — a nominal Romanist, who had 
learned to know and love Dr. Brookes, and 
had sent an urgent request for his presence 
when he wished to make his peace with God — 
the Archbishop rebuked them, and the dying 
man's wish was granted.) 

There was no one to carry on The Truth 
as a distinct publication after its founder was 
taken. It was a part of his personality. With- 
out him, it would have been nothing. 



Side- Lights. 



CHAPTER XV. 
SIDE LIGHTS. 




hose who knew Dr. Brookes only in the 
pulpit, knew him as an eloquent preach- 



er, who stirred men's souls as few of the 
world's divines have ever done. 

They knew him as a valiant defender of 
the Inerrant Bible, who hurled thunderbolts at 
the destructive Higher Criticism of the cen- 
tury's end. 

And they recognized him as a leader in 
Old World circles as well as New, in the pre- 
millennial school of thought. 

But unfortunately, such did not know the 
man, and often seriously misjudged him. Few 
men have been more misjudged. Many sup- 
posed him to be always engaged in thundering 
at some one. 

Yet, in fact, he was as tender-hearted as 
a woman. As a parent he was indulgent to a 

203 



204 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 

fault. To the wife of his youth he was an 
outspoken lover throughout the span of his 
life. Those who were so fortunate as to see 
Dr. Brookes in his home life, can never forget 
it, and will always be the better for it. In 
weal and woe, in sickness and in health, he was 
the same patient, gentle, always affectionate 
husband and father. No thoughtless words 
that hurt were spoken. In "little things" he 
was always careful. This is the testimony of 
the writer who lived in that home. It is the 
testimony of scores of others. 

His treatment of his servants was that of 
a model master. He never forgot that they 
had hearts and souls. 

One prominent St. Louisan testified in a 
letter, at the time of the good man's transla- 
tion, that through Dr. Brookes' "practicing 
what he preached" in his treatment of his 
servants, he had been led to believe in and ac- 
cept Christianity. An ex-servant of Dr. 
Brookes' had borne testimony of the life in his 
home to this man, 



Reference is made elsewhere to his rare 
sense of humor. His stock of comical tales, 
gleaned from actual experience, was remarka- 
ble. And these were not kept for other rare 



SIDE-LIGHTS. 



205 



spirits en route to Synod, or as a relief after 
the serious work of the day at Northfield 
Summer School, or the Niagara-on-the-Beach 
Conference. He was at his best in his home 
circle. He was a born mimic. Perhaps he 
excelled when recounting negro tales in the 
dialect. 

Probably no pastor in the Presbyterian 
Church "understood" so well the negroes. 
He had been brought up among them. When 
he began to walk, in his Tennessee home, a 
little dusky toddler was at his side. His first 
sermon was preached to the colored people at 
Oxford, Ohio, while a college student. And 
such was his work for that race throughout 
his long, laborious St Louis pastorate, that 
after his death a special memorial service was 
held by the colored Presbyterians, and heart- 
felt testimony as to his labors in their behalf 
was borne. 

A LOVER OF CHILDREN. 

Dr. Brookes was the friend of every 
child. Babies seemed to turn to him naturally 
for protection and amusement. A photograph 
reproduced in this volume shows him sur- 
rounded by a bevy of little ones, during a 
summer's outing at North Manitou Island, 
Lake Michigan. 



206 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR, 

It was always so. His grandchildren idol- 
ized him. He had almost resented the 
"growing up" of his daughters, for he was al- 
ways their best play-fellow. The sight of the 
learned Dr. Brookes down on his hands and 
knees, "playing bear," was the edifying pic- 
ture often presented to distinguished callers at 
the pastoral residence. 

And rare pranks were sometimes played 
on him by his children. One of these, of 
which his youngest daughter was the perpe- 
trator, deserves to be recorded, such was its 
originality and daring. 

One day, while the Doctor was asleep on 
a lounge, the little girl daintily braided his 
beard into a number of separate pieces, each 
one gaily decked out with a piece of narrow 
but strong blue ribbon. She gazed with deep 
satisfaction upon her handiwork, and departed. 

A noted Southern editor, it so happened, 
was passing through St. Louis the very day, 
and called at that moment to pay his respects 
to Dr. Brookes. 

The Doctor awoke at the sound of the 
door-bell, and greeted his guest, all uncon- 
scious of the dazed look of wonder in tne face 
of the visitor, whose eyes seemed fascinated 
by the beard. The Doctor did not happen to 



SIDH-LIGHTS- 



207 



stroke that portion of his face, and so did not 
discover the cause of his guest's pre-occupied 
air — not to speak of incoherent words. 

Only when after the guest, still in a sort 
of a trance, had departed, did Dr. Brookes 
discover the true state of things. He always 
suspected that the man, who had not seen him 
before, supposed him to be an habitual beard- 
curler. 

In his younger days he was accused of 
caring too much for his personal appearance 
in the pulpit, and of being too particular about 
the cut and set of his coat. It is needless to 
say that these innuendoes were made by 
strangers. The carelessness he always show- 
ed concerning proper clerical habiliments was 
often a cause of distress to his young wife. If 
he looked "well-groomed" in the pulpit it was 
because she had kept a watchful eye upon him, 
and for no wish of his own. 

THE RED- WHEELED BUGGY. 

The young wife was often surprised and 
amused too, at the frequency with which Dr. 
Brookes ivas not taken for a minister. Here is 
one instance during the early life in St. Louis: 
They often drove out together, and she noticed 
with considerable wonderment how her hus- 
band always took from the livery stable a cer- 



208 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



tain fast, rakish-looking horse, attached to a 
buggy with bright red wheels. She thought 
it an)^thing but suitable (for in those days, she 
said, to drive in a buggy with red wheels was 
a sign of depravity.) Yet, rather than hurt 
her husband's feelings, she submitted resigned- 
ly to the carmine hue and the fast "trotter." 

But finally, she felt for his sake she 
must enter a protest. The complaint was 
passed on by the minister to the liveryman. 
A light broke on the latter, who hastened to 
explain: 

" Why, are you Dr. Brookes, the preacher? 

I thought you were that gambler, Capt. . 

That is a dangerous horse, and might have 
killed you. I thought it would be a good rid- 
dance if he did run off again and did kill , 

so I let you have it." 

Thereafter a fat and sleepy old horse 
sedately jogged along before the sombre- 
hued vehicle in which sat the young minister 
and his fair wife; and sometimes, it must be 
confessed, the pastor had to smother a sigh as 
he thought of that other, tabooed steed — for 
Dr. Brookes loved to drive a spirited horse. 

SOME STORIES HE TOLD. 

Some of the bon-rnots of this prince ofre- 
counters should be kept for the lovers of real 



SIDE-UGHTS. 



209 



humor, through the "art preservative," and 
therefore are here reproduced. 

One summer, during the Pre-millennial 
Conference at Richfield Springs, N. Y., be- 
fore the day of the Niagara gathering — a 
Presbyterian minister of a New York town 
was studying the tenets of pre-millennialism. 
He lay awake one night in a room opposite 
two occupied by Dr. Brookes and a well- 
known evangelist. 

It so happened the day before that Dr. 
Brookes had expected to receive copies of the 
current issue of his magazine, The Truth. But 
they had been delayed. Suddenly, about 
midnight, he was awakened by the minister 
across the way knocking at his door and 
shouting exultingly. 

The light of pre-millennialism had dawned 
upon him in the silent watch of the night, and 
he felt that he must tell his mentor of it. 

"Oh! Dr. Brookes, it's come; it's come. 
I've got it; I've got it," he cried. 

Dr. Brookes arose and, but half awake, 

said: 

"What have you got ? " 
"The truth." 

Dr. Brookes, still half asleep, supposed 
his friend referred to the delayed periodical, 
and asked, wonderingly: 



210 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



"How did it come, by mail or express ? M 
The evangelist in the next room had been 
awakened, and was in a convulsion of laughter. 

Meanwhile the poor convert stood with- 
out in open-mouthed astonishment. 

HIS FIRST SERMON. 

He loved to tell of his experiences with 
negro preachers and congregations. The 
work he did among the colored congregation 
of Oxford, Ohio, is memorabilia of interest. 
While a college student there, he accosted a 
colored man^ne day, and desired to know if 
his people had any means of worship ? 

" 'Deed we hasn't, boss," was the re- 
sponse. 

"If I offer to preach to you will you 
gather your friends to hear me ? " then asked 
young Brookes; adding, doubtless, that he was 
from the South. 

" 'Deed ah will," was the delighted ans- 
wer. 

The young student then obtained per- 
mission to use a school house on the out- 
skirts of the town for his service. The color- 
ed friend, meanwhile, had been putting in a 
good part of his time telling about the young 
Southerner who was going to preach to "us 
niggers." 



SIDK-IvIGHTS. 



211 



On the appointed Sunday evening Mr. 
Brookes found the room packed. His hearers 
had gathered from miles around. After the 
singing of old-time hymns a simple Gospel 
sermon was preached In the midst of the 
sermon some of the old-time "bredren an' 
sisters" began to "get luppy" — "shoutin' 
happy." 

Their mood, which was at once recognized 
by the young Tennesseean, was just beginning 
to be contagious when the young preacher 
leaped to his feet and commanded them to 
"stop their nonsense and behave themselves." 
They quieted down — for he knew how to 
manage them — and the meeting soon dispers- 
ed in an orderly manner. 

The next morning, seated by an open 
window in his college room, Mr. Brookes over- 
heard two ancient "aunties" of very dusky 
hue talking over the meeting of the night 
before. 

"Didn't we jes' have a gran' time, sis- 
ter ? " said one. 

" 'Deed we did. But what ah'm a-study- 
in' 'bout is, why didn't the young marser let 
us niggers holler ? Tell me ?" 

"Sho' honey," her friend replied, to the 
listener's intense amusement, "dat's jes' his 
ign'ance. He's so young." 



212 JAMKS H. BROOKES: A MKMOIR. 



Years after Dr. Brookes had another ex- 
perience among colored friends which amused 
him greatly. He was visiting at the planta- 
tion of a friend in Louisiana. As was his 
custom, he inquired concerning the colored 
churches thereabout. Learning of one not far 
away, he visited it on a Sunday. He was in- 
troduced by the planter to the worthy but 
rather pompous pastor, who immediately 
changed his plans for the day and besought 
Dr. Brookes to preach for him. The invita- 
tion was accepted. 

But when the time came for the sermon 
the visitor could hardly restrain his laughter 
and proceed. For in these words the colored 
minister made him known to the admiring 
flock: 

' 'Ah interduce de Rev'ren' Dr. Brookes 
of St. Louie, who is a gwine to preach ter- 
day. 

"Dey sholy grows great men en ole 
Missury. Brudder Brookes is from Missury 
— ah'm from Missury." 

THE WEDDING HE BROKE OFF AT THE LAST 
MINUTE. 

Dr. Brookes' house, in the early days, 
when he lived in what is now the heart of the 
business district, was a Mecca for young 



Sl£>K-lvIGilTS. 



213 



couples who wished a quiet marriage. His 
experiences were sometimes very amusing. 
He used to tell of one marriage which he broke 
off "for cause," five minutes before the time 
set for it; and when the bride and groom were 
in his parlor. 

The groom was a beardless boy of weak 
countenance; the bride-elect a grim-visaged 
lady of uncertain years and beady eyes. Dr. 
Brookes grasped the situation; it was a leap 
year affair he saw at a glance, and might en- 
tail life-long sorrow for the boy. 

"Come here a minute," said Dr. Brookes 
to the youth. 

They adjourned to the hall. 

"Look here, boy," said Dr. Brookes, "do 
you know what you're doing?" The boy 
grinned feebly and said he " 'lowed he did." 

"Do you really want to marry that woman, 
who is almost old enough to be your mother, 
and as ugly as sin ? " 

"I don't much care one way or 'nother; 
but she's sot on marryin' me." 

"Don't you know that if I marry you to 
her you will have to swear to love her and 
support her till death ?" the doctor thundered. 

The youth turned pale, wavered, and said 
"he hadn't thought of that." 



214 



JAMKS H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR, 



"Boy, you should get out of this match, or 
you'll be sorry. Speak quick. Shall I tell 
her you will not marry her ? " 

"Yes, please do, boss," answered the now 
terrified groom-elect. 

And the marriage was "declared off" at 
once. 



"Captain Greatheart." 



CHAPTER XVI. 
"CAPTAIN GREATHEART." 

HOW DR. BROOKES CURED A WIFE-BEATER. 

nce a weak, trembling woman came to 
him and said that she was in mortal 
terror of her husband, a river pilot. 
(This was in the "palmy days" of steamboating 
on western rivers). She said he was kind to 
her generally; but at the end of his trip he 
always got drunk, and then he would beat her 
until he was tired. 

He had given her one beating too many, 
and the "worm had turned." But before 
seeking a lawyer to draw up a petition for 
divorce on grounds of cruelty, she decided — 
as hundreds of other St. Louisans did when 
in dire distress — to consult with Dr. Brookes. 
After she had told him her sad story, he 

said: 

"Where is your husband's boat now ? " 
"He will be at Cairo on his way up, day 
after to-morrow," she replied. 

217 




218 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



"All right; you have a letter there to 
meet him. Don't do anything more until I 
see you again. 

"Tell him Dr. Brookes says that before he 
beats his wife again he wants to be informed 
as to the time. He has never seen a man 
beat a woman. It will be a new experience. 
Tell him that Dr. Brookes intends to be pres- 
ent the next time the beating takes place.' ' 

A few days later a shamefaced man 
called at the pastoral residence and meekly 
requested to see Dr. Brookes. 

"I got the letter, Doctor, and I have come 
to tell you that I will never beat my wife 
again." The pilot was kindly met. 

"You see, Doctor/' he said, "I never 
would beat her if I wasn't drunk, and I'm 
going to quit drinking. I never felt so mean 
in my life as when I read that letter." 

A long, serious talk followed. Soon after, 
that pilot was a sincere convert of Dr. Brookes'. 
The Bible was never out of his pilot-house; 
and he sought to master its contents as he had 
the channels of the Mississippi. Within the 
past three years a Mississippi pilot bore tes- 
timony to Dr. Brookes as to the sincerity of 
this quondam wife-beater and drunkard's con- 
version. He told Dr. Brookes that the man 



CAPTAIN GR3ATH3UR?. 



219 



never drank again, gave up swearing, and was 
known and respected as a sincere Christian 
all along the river. 

His widow, who was a member of the 
Washington and Compton Avenue Church, 
bequeathed the bulk of her estate — having no 
children — to the church, at her death, a short 
time ago. That was her expression of grati- 
tude to Dr. Brookes. 

WAR-TIME MEMORIES. 

During the troublous times in St. Louis 
in the early 6o's — referred to in another 
chapter — there were many amusing recollec- 
tions for Dr. Brookes, paradoxical as it may 
seem in view of some of the very trying ex- 
periences he had. 

An honored officer in the Washington 
and Compton Avenue Church to-day was 
then a young Major at the front, in the Con- 
federate army. He was a member of the 
Second Church under Dr. Brookes' pastorate. 
A certain fellow member of the church, now 
deceased, was an ardent Northern man. He 
advocated a trial before the session of Mr. 

, because of his connection with the 

Southern army. 

One of the session, who possessed a fund 



220 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



of common sense only equalled by his dry 
humor, gravely remarked: 

4 'All right; we will try him before the 
session. But he must be 'personally served' 
with a notice. I move that our friend who 
suggests the trial be appointed to serve the 
notice on the young officer, by passing 
through the Rebel lines." 

Pictures of flying shell and shot flashed 
before the said complainant. He turned ashy 
pale, and the "churching" stopped then and 
there, as when a rapid bullet strikes an oak. 



Another story he told was of a Presby- 
terian minister who at the opening of the war 
lived in St. Louis. This gentleman was a 
strong Northern man. One day an alarming 
rumor came of the approach of a certain much- 
feared Southern officer with his band of 
roughs. This pastor took quick leave astride 
of an old white mule. 

"The last view of him," Dr. Brookes used 
to say, "was a rear view. His long legs al- 
most touched the ground. But he tried to 
spur the old mule at every step." Had the 
gentleman waited he would have found that 
his panic was a needless one. 



CAPTAIN GRKATHKART. 



221 



BROOKES VS. BRIGGS. 

One of the most striking events of the 
Briggs case, before the General Assembly at 
Washington, was an impromptu debate Dr. 
Brookes and Prof. Briggs had in the elevator 
of a Washington hotel, which would have 
made a good newspaper ' 'story" at the time. 

By chance Dr. Brookes went to the hos- 
telry which was later recognized as the head- 
quarters of the Briggs' f ollowing. Dr. Brookes 
was about the only orthodox Presbyterian in 
the hotel. It was inevitable that the two 
noted men would meet. Sure enough, one 
day, they almost ran into each other in the 
elevator. There was a courteous though 
formal exchange of greetings, and then Prof. 
Briggs said, at once: 

"Look here, Brookes, why are you always 
attacking me in your Truth?" 

Dr. Brookes gave his reason boldly. He 
felt that Briggs was assailing the foundations 
on which the Bible rested, and he said so. 
He then proceeded to prove his charge by 
quoting word for word — giving page, and 
number of lines from the top of the page — 
the most heterodox sentences from Briggs' 
book. (The professor then learned some- 
thing of that famous memory.) 



222 



JAMES H. BROOKKS: A MEMOIR. 



There could be no reply, so Briggs took 
an ad hominem tack: "Well," he replied, "I 
do not attack you because of your pre-millen- 
nialism." 

"Look here, Briggs," replied the St. 
Louisan, "I want you, and everyone, to know 
that the minute the Presbyterian Church says 
that pre-millennialism is in the slightest de- 
gree a heresy, I and the Presbyterian Church 
at once part company. And no trial will be 
necessary, I assure you." 

That was a palpable hint and thrust, for- 
sooth. 

Then the party left the elevator. 

There certainly was no doubt about Dr. 
Brookes' assault on the teachings — never the 
personality — of Briggs and his satellites. His 
Truth editorials, and many pages of "God 
Spake all these Words," flayed them. And 
the sturdy blows long stung, as the elevator 
incident showed. But there were no assaults 
on the man or the men. 

Figuratively, Dr. Brookes, the attorney 
for Orthodoxy, had too good a "case" for that. 
It is admitted that, moved to righteous indig- 
nation, he smote the liberals hip and thigh. 

He did not waste time in palaver and 



CAPTAIN GREAT HE ART. 



223 



tossing handfuls of grass. He hurled rocks 
where rocks were needed. 

His conscience and his judgment justified 
him, and man's criticism, therefore availed 
nothing. 

A LOVER OF NAT J RE. 

All his life Dr. Brookes loved nature and 
1 'sought the open," though he did not find 
"sermons in stones," and ridiculed scientists 
who said they did. 

He was a hunter and fisherman of marked 
prowess when a young man. While he gave 
up hunting during his early ministry, he al- 
ways was a keen fisherman. 

During the earlier years of his ministry in 
St. Louis his vacations were short and far 
between. He rarely took but a month. And 
the summer when the cholera plague raged in 
St. Louis, he refused to leave his people. He 
bore the "burden and the heat" of those 
deadly days until he was threatened with the 
dread malady himself, and was not more than 
able to travel. He then was prevailed upon 
to save his useful life by seeking country 
air, 

And, to return to the subject of summer 
outings, it was always his desire to seek green 
trees and running brooks, or the sea. He 



224 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



detested hotel life, and fled from crowds. Yet 
eager pulpit committes always managed to find 
him immediately after his arrival "for his sum- 
mer rest," however quiet and secluded the 
spot; and by means fair or foul finally argued 
him into preaching here or there for them, 
despite his family's protests. It was that 
which led his dear ones to take him, one sum- 
mer, to an almost inapproachable island, where 
steamers rarely landed, in Lake Michigan. 

During the summer of 1882, in St. Louis. 
Dr. Brookes was overcome by the heat, while 
making a pastoral round of visits. He lay 
unconscious during one night. Since that 
summer heat affected him greatly. He was 
forced to take longer rests in order to escape 
the trying summer weather of his chosen field 
of life-labor. When he worked there, after 
June 1st, he was in constant danger of another 
heat prostration. Yet work at that risk he 
often did. 

A SWORD-CANE EPISODE. 

Dr. Brookes had an experience on his re- 
turn from his bridal tour which affected his 
whole life. 

The young couple had entered a crowded 
car en route to Dayton. One vacant seat 
was found — vacant except for a small package. 



CAPTAIN GREATHEART. 



225 



"Is this seat engaged?" asked Dr. Brookes 
of the persons just behind it. 
"No," they replied. 

He laid the bundle down and Mrs. 
Brookes and he seated themselves. 

A moment later a man hustled into the 
car, went to the seat in question and said, 
angrily: 

"Didn't you see that bundle. This is my 
seat. You are no gentleman to have taken 
it." 

Dr. Brookes had been seated in a crouch- 
ed down attitude. The insulter evidently 
thought him a small man. Near at hand was 
a sword-cane which had just been presented 
to Dr. Brookes by an uncle. 

In an instant he leaped to his full height. 
His face was white with rage; his eyes were 
blazing. 

"Sit down, you scoundrel," thundered 
Dr. Brookes at the then terrified intruder. 

The young wife laid her hand on her 
husband. In a moment he was calm. (The 
intruder had meanwhile slunk out of the car.) 

Dr. Brookes often said that but for his 
wife's action he believed he might have run 
the insulter through with his weapon, for his 
temper was quick and fiery. He felt deeply 



226 JAMKS H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 

humiliated by his public display of rage, and 
never forgot the lesson. From that day, for 
forty-three years, his wife never heard him 
give way to temper and raise his voice in 
anger. 

A MEMORABLE HUNTING TRIP. 

Once in his early pastorate he was out 
camping with a party of hunters. At bed- 
time, in the midst of the general laughter and 
confusion — without any ostentation — the 
young St. Louis divine began to read his 
Bible, and when he was through he politely 
requested silence for a short time while he 
knelt in prayer. 

The men of the world — for it was not a 
party of ministers by any means — were hush- 
ed in a moment. 

The scene made a great impression on 
one young man. He was so attracted by the 
manly young minister-woodsman's consistency 
that he asked to be allowed to join in the Bible 
reading the next night. The others did 
likewise. Soon the question "What shall I 
do to be saved ? " was asked, and the one who 
had first been allowed to join in Dr. Brookes' 
devotions became a Christian. He always 
saiJ that Dr. Brookes' practice of his preach- 
ing under those trying circumstances led him 
to take this step. 



CAPTAIN GREATHEART. 



227 



Once while walking on the porch of a 
hotel in Colorado, Dr. Brookes was accosted 
by another guest, also a St. Louisan. 

"Dr. Brookes," said the man, "that wo- 
man over there made me swear/' (pointing to 
an acquaintance.) "A fly was bothering her; 
she kept brushing it away in vain. So I 
swore for her, as she couldn't, being a lady." 

"My friend, I have a little black book in 
my pocket which I would like to read to you, 
if you will permit me." 

"Certainly." 

Dr. Brookes then took out of his pocket a 
copy of the New Testament which he always 
carried with him, and read a few verses to the 
St. Louisan. 

The next day the two men met again. 

"Have you got that little black book with 
you now, Doctor ? " 

"Yes, I always carry it." 

"Well, I wish you would read some more 
of it to me." 

Dr. Brookes did so, and the man's eyes 
filled with tears. 

Not long after this man died in St. Louis. 

He was a member of a prominent Roman 
Catholic family. But at his last moment he 
commanded them to send for Dr. Brookes, 



228 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



and with him at his side made his peace with 
God. 

Such experiences of Dr. Brookes might 
fill this book. These have been given to 
throw light on his many-sided life and work. 
Like St. Paul, he was "all things to all men." 

HE HAD BEEN A DOUBTER. 

Dr. Brookes went through deep waters in 
his early Christian experiences. His diary 
shows that. At times the foundations of his 
faith were shaken, and he went through all 
that the infidel does. But he came out victor- 
ious, never again to be troubled himself, and 
a bulwark to all who were in such perplexity. 

His bitter experiences were used to great 
good in later life. He knew the workings of 
the minds of the skeptics he reasoned with. 
Many of them testified that he only, of all the 
ministers they ever talked with, could appeal 
to them. Scores were led to faith by him. 



Looking Backward. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



LOOKING BACKWARD. 

N February 18,1883, Dr. Brookes preach- 
ed a striking sermon on 1 Cor. ii. 1, 2. 
Its title was "Twenty-five years in 
the Master's Service." This was preached 
at the Washington and Compton Avenue 
Church. 

In the discourse he reviewed his long 
years of duty in St. Louis. Fortunately, it 
was printed, being one of the few sermons of 
later years which he wrote out. 

It recalls in an interesting manner the 
facts of his St. Louis pastorate up to that 
time, and also presents an outline picture of 
the city's general religious history. 

"twenty-five years in the master's 

SERVICE." 

"And I, brethren, when I came to you, 
came not with excellency of speech or of wis- 
dom, declaring unto you the testimony of 
God. For I determined not to know anything 

231 




232 



JAMKS H. BROOKKS: A MKMOIR. 



among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him cruci- 
fied." — i Cor. ii. 1-2. 

4 'Precisely twenty-five years ago this text 
suggested the theme of my first sermon in St. 
Louis, on the Lord's day, as pastor-elect of 
the Second Presbyterian Church. Arriving 
in the city the Friday evening previous, and 
impatient to end a long and wearisome journey, 
I left the omnibus at the corner of Fourth and 
Market, and walked down the icy street to the 
residence of Judge Gamble, who had kindly 
invited me to become his guest. Well do I 
recall the oppressive sense of loneliness, of 
conscious insufficiency for the pastoral charge 
of a church that had enjoyed the ministry of 
the sainted Dr. Potts, and of Dr. Rice, who was, 
in my estimation, 'the prince of preachers;' 
and the sadness was increased by the thought 
that I had left a people who were very near to 
my heart. But these melancholy reflections 
were scattered by the unexpected appearance 
of Gen. Edwards, Mr. Joseph Powell and Mr. 
Charles D. Drake, who met me in the street 
with the welcome intelligence that prayer had 
been offered in my behalf; that an unusual in- 
terest pervaded the congregation; and that 
service had been appointed for that evening. 
After supper we proceeded to the church 



tOOKlNG BACKWARD, 



233 



building, which then stood on the corner of 
Fifth and Walnut; and those assembled were 
addressed from the words, 'Grieve not the 
Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed 
unto the day of redemption,' Eph. iv. 30. 

"At the close of the service all who de- 
sired to be saved were invited to remain for 
prayer and conversion, and three persons ac- 
cepted the invitation. 

"Three of our present session and a 
number of others worshipping with us to-day, 
are the fruits of the revival which followed 
that first meeting. 

"On the succeeding Lord's day the text 
was selected which is chosen this morning, 
because it embodied the aim of my ministry 
and the purpose of my coming to St. Louis: 
'And I, brethren, when I came to you, came 
not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, 
declaring unto you the testimony of God. 
For I determined not to know anything among 
you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.' 
How poorly this aim has been accomplished; 
how feebly and imperfectly this purpose has 
been executed, no one can understand as well 
as myself. Indeed, it is with unaffected shame 
and sorrow my thoughts run over these twenty- 
five years, reviewing so many failures; so 



234 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 

many mixed and unhallowed motives; so many 
words which should never have been uttered; 
so many hours of idleness; so many doubts 
and fears and seasons of unbelief and of sore 
spiritual conflict with the world, the flesh and 
the devil; so many weak and unworthy at- 
tempts to preach the Gospel, that memory 
alone would drive me from the pulpit into 
silence and despair were it not that God's 
sovereign and inexhaustible grace shall be 
glorified in my personal humiliations. Truly, 
in my case, the treasure has been committed 
to an earthen vessel, that the excellency of the 
power might be of Him, and not of me." 

HIS PULPIT IDEAL. 

1 ' But He is my witness also that it has 
been my wish to keep that first text constantly 
in view; not seeking to please men, but Christ; 
not striving to be popular, but to preach the 
truth; not laboring to exhibit excellency of 
speech or of wisdom, but declaring the testi- 
mony of the written Word in all simplicity and 
sincerity. Let me add that just so far, and 
only so far, as I have foolishly yielded to 
temptation to depart from the text, are the 
recollections of my ministry bitter and painful; 
and let me express the conviction, which is far more 
profound than it was a quarter of a century ago, that it 



LOOKING BACKWARD. 



235 



is the one absorbing, entire, and exclusive duty and 
privilege of the preacher of the Gospel to declare the 
testimony of God plainly, boldly and faithfully , and to 
k?ww nothing among his people 'save fesus Christ, and 
Him crucified. ' 

" * * Let me briefly trace the history of 
this church through the twenty-five years now 
closing. During the greater part of this long 
period it has been a somewhat turbulent his- 
tory, for we have lived in stormy times. First, 
after a year or two of unparalleled political 
excitement, the civil war began in 1 86 1 ; and 
nowhere did it burst with greater violence than 
in this State and city. Scarcely had it ceased 
before the singularly unwise action of the Gen- 
eral Assembly in 1865 led to the publication 
of a vigorous protest, known as the ' Declara- 
tion and Testimony.' This paper was regard- 
ed by those in ecclesiastical authority as schis- 
matical in its tendency, and wanting in proper 
respect to the highest court of the church; and 
the General Assembly which met in St. Louis 
in 1866, after a fierce discussion of many days, 
excluded those who had signed it from their 
seats in that body, and passed upon them a 
severe sentence. The action of the Assembly 
was followed by the formation of the Indepen- 
dent Synod of Missouri, with which our 
church became identified, although several of 



236 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



our members who were in warm sympathy 
with the Assembly in its political legislation 
withdrew from our connection. The church 
remained in this independent attitude until 
1874, when the Assembly, that again met in 
St. Louis, unanimously adopted the principles 
for which we had contended, and acted in a 
manner so Christian and generous that the great 
body of our people felt that the strife ought to 
end. There were some, however, who pre- 
ferred to be in the Southern Assembly; and 
when the church finally united with the North- 
ern Presbytery these withdrew.* *" 

SOME FACTS AND FIGURES. 

' ' Amid all these commotions God has 
never left Himself without a witness that His 
Spirit was with us, although it was of the 
Lord's mercies that we were not consumed. 
There has never been a communion season — 
which occurs every two months — when we did 
not receive one or more into our number. I 
find from a printed sermon of mine, delivered 
on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the organi- 
zation of the Second Presbyterian Church, that 
from the 18th of February, 1858, to April, 
1864, there were received 184 by confession of 
faith and 154 by letter, making a total of 338. 
The Walnut Street Church was organized 



LOOKING BACKWARD. 



237 



July 4, 1864, and at the same meeting called 
me to be the pastor. My last sermon in the 
Second Church was preached July 8, 1864, 
and the following Wednesday evening my 
ministry began in the Walnut Street Church. 
From that time until the delivery of my last 
sermon in the building on the corner of Six- 
teenth and Walnut streets, April 27, 1879, 
there were received 869 upon confession and 
604 by letter, making a total of 1,473. ^ ne 
ground upon which this building stands was 
broken for the foundation July 4, 1877; the 
corner stone was laid October 27, 1877; our 
first service in the lecture-room was held May 
4, 1879; and our first service in the room in 
which we are assembled to-day, December 5, 
1880. In the period of less than four years 
since we came to our present place of worship 
we have received 173 upon confession and 157 
by letter, making a total of 330, or 2,141 in all, 
showing an average increase of nearly two for 
every week during the twenty-five years. 

"While we met for public worship on the 
corner of Sixteenth and Walnut the church 
raised for building purposes $84,987, for cur- 
rent expenses $132,082.54, and for benevolent 
work $47,571.79. To this should be added 
nearly $40,000 raised by the ladies for the 



238 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



support of the Presbyterian Home. Since the 
occupancy of this building we have raised in 
cash $65,278 for current expenses and the 
payment of the church debt, and given away 
$4,906 to help forward the work of the Lord 
in other places. To this must be added 
$8,511.97 made or contributed by the ladies, 
who have labored faithfully and continually. 

"We have always sustained mission Sun- 
day-schools, three of which are now conduct- 
ed by our people; and for much of the time 
city missionaries have been supported to carry 
the Gospel to the poor. Two of our members 
are now laboring in the foreign field among 
the heathen, and about twenty young men, 
during the twenty-five years, have gone forth 
to preach the Word as pastors or evange- 
lists. * 

PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS. 

"One of the most impressive lessons 
learned in these twenty-five years is the little- 
ness of every man's life. 

"Of all the pastors who were here when I 
came to St Louis but two remain. Those of 
most note were Dr. Nelson, of the First Pres- 
byterian Church; Dr. S. J. P. Anderson, of 
the Central Church; Dr. McPheeters, of the 
Pine Street Church; Dr. Porter, of the Union 



LOOKING BACKWARD. 



239 



Church; Dr. Boyle, of the First Methodist 
Church; Mr. — afterwards Bishop — Marvin, of 
the Centenary Methodist Church; Bishop 
Hawks, of the Episcopal Church; Dr. Post of 
the Congregational Church; and Dr. G. Ander- 
son, of the Second Baptist Church. 

"I have attended about 500 funerals, and 
among them the obsequies of distinguished 
citizens, as Thos. H. Benton, Gov. Gamble, 
Joseph Charless, Gen. Blair and others; and, 
although a great crowd thronged the streets 
as the procession moved on to the dirge of 
martial music, or followed the sable plumes of 
the hearse, it often recalled the words of the 
Psalmist, 'Behold, Thou hast made my days 
as an hand-breadth, and mine age is as noth- 
ing before Thee. Verily, every man at his 
best state is altogether vanity. Selah. Surely 
every man walketh in a vain show; surely they 
are disquieted in vain; He heapeth up riches 
and knoweth not who shall gather them. And 
now, Lord, what wait I for ? My hope is in 
Thee.' 

"The session of the Second Church was, 
in some respects, a remarkable body twenty- 
five years ago. Judge Gamble, a man of rare 
wisdom, and simple faith, and sustained con- 
secration, who bound me to him with hooks of 



240 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



steel; Archibald Gamble, who was an earnest 
believer in the pre-millennial coming of the 
Lord before I saw 'that blessed hope' shin- 
ing through the gloom; Wyllis King, so bright 
and genial, and gifted in prayer; Joseph Powell, 
full of gentleness and kindness; John Simonds, 
who, as if with a premonition of death, tender- 
ly shook hands with every member of the 
session the evening preceding the collision on 
the Iron Mountain Railroad by which he was 
instantly killed Thos. H. West, Gen. Ed- 
wards, Chas D. Drake and Eustace H. Smith 
were the ruling elders. Mr. Drake is Chief Jus- 
tice of the Court of Claims, in Washington City; 
and Mr. Smith resides in Peoria, 111. Of the 
session chosen at the organization of the Wal- 
nut Street Church none have been called up 
higher except our beloved brother, James L. 
Sloss, whose absence my heart keenly feels 
this morning. But, oh ! how many have been 
removed from other circles. There is scarcely 
a pew occupied by those who have been with 
us for even a few years, from which some one 
has not gone out to return no more. From 
one pew a father, from another a mother, 
from another a husband, from another a 
precious child; and heaven is growing richer 
and earth poorer so fast. 



LOOKING BACKWARD. 



241 



" 'They're gathering homeward from every 
land; 

As their weary feet touch the shining strand 
They rest with the Saviour, they wait their 
crown, 

Their travel- stained garments are all laid down; 
They wait the white raiment the Lord shall 
prepare 

For all who the glory with Him shall share. 
One by one, one by one, fording the river one 
by one, 

Gath'ring home, gath'ring home, yes, one by 
one/" 



The Pastor Emeritus. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

THE PASTOR EMERITUS. 

here has been found among the papers 
of Dr. Brookes the following, which was 
attached to the memorial sermon quot- 
ed in the preceding chapter. 

This datum shows the results of Dr. 
Brookes' labors in his church from February 
1 8, 1883, to October 16, 1894. 
It is reproduced in full: 
"The sermon" (that which has just been 
quoted), "was preached February 18, 1883. 
Up to that date there had been received into 
connection with the church 2,141 persons, and 
during the last ten years, including April 
1, 1893, there were received 613 by confes- 
sion and letter, making a total of 2,754. 

"During the period we worshipped in the 
building on the corner of Sixteenth and Wal- 
nut streets, and up to the date of the preach- 
ing of this printed sermon, there was contri- 
buted and disbursed the sum ot $383,334. 

245 




246 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



Within these past ten years the people have 
given to various objects at least $200,000, 
making a total of $583,334. 

''Within these last ten years the pastor 
has edited ten volumes of The Truth, and writ- 
ten and published 'The Mystery of Suffer- 
ing,' 'Till He Come/ 'Chaff and Wheat,' 
'The Bible under Fire,' and 'The Christ.' 

"James H. Brookes." 

Dr. Brookes struggled against ill-health 
during the final years of his pastorate. But 
he kept up to his full work, never sparing him- 
self, until, one Sunday morning, he gave evi- 
dence of being on the verge of an immediate 
physical break-down. 

A severe attack of la grippe had prostrat- 
ed him, and left behind the seeds of a fatal 
malady. 

For the first time in his life, this Sunday 
morning, he found that the Scriptural texts did 
not flow as readily from his tongue as air from 
his nostrils. 

That was, indeed, an alarming sign to his 
church officers. One of them hastened up to 
him at the close of the sermon, and said: 

"This won't do, Doctor; you must stop 
and go away for a rest." 



THE PASTOR EMERITUS. 



247 



"I must wait until the communion, next 
Sunday." 

"No, you must not wait for anything; you 
must stop right here." 

A very short time after, Dr. Brookes was 
in Asheville, N. C, where he spent some 
time during the winter. He had pleasant 
companions, did not work, and was out of 
doors most of the time — frequently riding 
horseback. 

He returned to St. Louis greatly strength- 
ened, and plunged into his work again. 

But it soon became evident to all that he 
must have relief, and plans were made to se- 
cure an assistant pastor. 

Rev. George T. Eddy, a young pastor of 
Beverly, N. J., was chosen to do this work. 

He was a faithful, consecrated and schol- 
arly young preacher. He assumed all of the 
burdens upon his shoulders that Dr. Brookes 
would let him bear. During the summer he 
did the entire church work. The relation be- 
tween the old and young minister was as that 
of a father and son. 

Later, circumstances led to Dr. Brookes' 
resignation from the pulpit he had honored so 
many years. 

At an enthusiastic meeting of the congre- 



248 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



gation, Dr. Brookes was made 4 'Pastor Emeri- 
tus," and Mr. Eddy was named as Stated 
Supply of the pulpit. 

This arrangement was continued for some 
time, Dr. Brookes preaching in the morning 
whenever his health permitted. Occasionally 
he conducted both services. In addition to 
his regular church services, he was also called 
on for many other duties — special sermons, 
Bible readings, and the like. He frequently 
went to such meetings when not physically 
able. It was always hard for him to say "no" 
when asked to give a Bible reading. 

A true story which is apropos, is part of 
the family history. He had gone abroad for 
a change, to soothe some very tired nerves and 
seek respite from insomnia. After some re- 
cuperation he attended the Mildmay Confer- 
ence. There he was continually surrounded 
by eager questioners, Bible in hands. Then 
he went over upon the continent, to Kissingen. 
Here, at last, thought his anxious wife, there 
will be no Bible students to tire him and coun- 
teract the good effect of the trip. 

But, alas, she soon saw/that she had 
reckoned without her host. Dr. Brookes' fame 
had preceded him, and numerous English visit- 
ors had gathered about him; and the usual 
program was being carried out. 



THE PASTOR EMERITUS 



249 



Then and there the loving, gentle wife 
rebelled. She declared that she would pack 
her trunks and go right back to St. Louis if he 
did not promise instant reform. 

He "reformed." 

LAST EVANGELISTIC SERVICES. 

After he became Pastor Emeritus, Dr. 
Brookes was able to accept invitations to do 
evangelistic work in various sections of the 
land, which heretofore his stated duties in the 
pastorate had made impossible. 

While his health was not good, yet he 
seemed to enjoy the work, and there was a 
stimulus in the meeting of so many new, zeal- 
ous friends which seemed more beneficial 
than medicine. So, charging him to be care- 
ful, his family consented to his accepting some 
of the many invitations that came to him. 

He conducted special meetings on the 
Pacific Coast, in Michigan, in Kansas City, in 
Minneapolis, and elsewhere, with marked suc- 
cess; all within the two years preceding his 
death. He came home the better, if anything, 
for this work. 

What seemed to wear him out was night 
work of various kinds in his own city. He at- 
tended many special services in inaccessible 
parts at great cost to his physical well-being. 



250 JAMKS H. BROOKKS: A MEMOIR. 

Just previous to the break-down which caused 
his sojourn at Stafford Springs, Miss., he had 
preached for ten nights; then he had held a 
special service in East St. Louis. He was in 
the midst of other evangelistic work in his 
city when he became ill and was forced to stop 
all work for a time. 

HIS BURDENSOME CORRESPONDENCE. 

Another duty which he faithfully, con- 
scientiously and laboriously performed, was 
answering daily from six to a score of letters, 
some of them often demanding lengthy ans- 
wers. 

These letters came from all parts of the 
world, chiefly from those who had learned to 
know Dr. Brookes through hearing him at 
conferences, or by the reading of his books, 
or The Truth. 

Many letters came from young preachers 
who wanted light on knotty points. Carefully 
and fully the letters would be answered. 
Sometimes this task took a good part of the 
day. 

It actually seemed as if anyone who had 
anywhere heard anything in the nature of an 
uncommon attack on the Bible at once ran for 
paper and pen to tell Dr. Brookes of it, and to 



THE PASTOR BMKRITUS. 251 



ask for the proper answer with which to anni- 
hilate the skeptic who propounded it. 

Often Dr. Brookes would be asked to 
"outline" sermons and addresses for ministers 
in all parts of the land, "because he knew so 
much about the Bible," while their ignorance 
of the special subject in hand would be frankly 
confessed. In this respect some startling" 
facts might be told, 

Masses of manuscript on works requiring 
expert knowledge of the Bible were frequent- 
ly brought to him for revision or criticism. 
(Had he ever asked any remuneration — on the 
scale which "experts" in all other professions 
are paid — his income would have been co- 
lossal. But a "thank you" was all he ever ex- 
pected, and occasionally that was lacking. All 
he had to will away were his books and his 
prayers for his grandchildren.) 

He was deluged, too, with correspondence 
of a private nature on almost every conceiva- 
ble subject. Everything seemed to be hurled 
at him via the U. S. mails — that is, every- 
thing but stamps for the reply. 

His family believe that what helped 
largely to hasten his final collapse was his 
conscientious desire to answer all calls for 



252 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



duty in the local field, and to respond promptly 
to his daily mass of correspondence. 

He did both up to the week before his 
death, contrary to their earnest wishes. 

They understand, of course, that no one 
knowingly would have burdened him so sore- 
ly. They understand equally well that his 
life and health were dear to thousands besides 
those of his own home circle. 

dr. Brookes' last sermon. 

The outline notes of the last sermon Dr. 
Brookes ever preached are here reproduced 
from a leaf in his Bible. 

It was delivered with wonderful fervor, on 
Sunday morning, April 11,-1897. This is the 
only "manuscript" he had of it: 

"THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH." — JNO. X. 28. 

I. Atonement: Matt. xx. 28; xxvi. 28; Rom. 
v. 6; 1 Cor. xv. 3; 2 Cor. v.' 21; Gal. i. 4; 
iii. 13; Eph. i. 7; 1 Peter ii. 24. 
IL Forgiveness: Luke v. 20; vii. 48; Acts x. 
43; Col. ii. 13-15; 1 John i. 7; ii. 12; Ps. ciii. 
12: Isa. xxxiii. 17; Micahvii. 19. 
III. Intercession: Luke xxii. 32; John xvii. 20; 

Rom. viii. 34; Heb. iv. 14, 15; v. 20; vii. 
24-26; 1 John ii. 1; Rev. viii. 3. 
IV. Omnipotence: Matt, xxviii. 12; John iii. 35; 
xiii. 3; xvii. 2; Eph. i. 20-22; Phil. ii. 9-11; 
Heb. i. 2; 1 Peter iii. 22; Dan. iv. 35. 
V. Omniscience: John ii. 24, 25; xvi. 30; xxi. 



THE PASTOR EMERITUS. 



253 



17; Matt. ix. 4; xii. 25; Acts i. 24; Heb. iv. 
13; Rev. ii. 23. 
VI. Omnipresence: Matt, xxviii. 20; xviii. 20; 
Mark xvi. 20; John xiv. 23; Acts xviii. 
9, 10. 

VII. Unchanging I,ove: John xiii. 1; xiv. 19; 

xv. 13; Rom. viii. 35-37; Phil. i. 6; 1 John 
iii. 15; Rev. i. 5, 6. 

He might truly have been preaching his 
own funeral sermon. Immortality was the 
key note of the discourse. 

At the close of that sermon it was observ- 
ed by a member of his family that Dr. Brookes 
stopped in front of his pulpit and gazed care- 
fully all around the great auditorium. Not a 
detail escaped him. His eyes rested on the 
window erected as a memorial for his eldest 
daughter, Etta. 

Then he looked at the retreating congre- 
gation. When the last one had departed he 
turned slowly and thoughtfully into his study. 

He said nothing about this uncommon 
deed; for his dear ones never before saw him 
do as he did that Sunday. But they have 
often wondered if he had not some premoni- 
tion that it was his last sermon. 

HIS FINAL TESTIMONY. 

The last address Dr. Brookes ever made 
was on the Sunday evening before he died. 



254 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



He recalled in a personal testimony service 
some very trying youthful experiences which 
he had passed through. These were his days 
of doubt; the days when he almost gave up his 
Christianity. 

Those who heard him were thrilled. 
Had they but known what a week was to 
bring forth how carefully would every word 
have been taken down and preserved for all 
time. 

But, as always was the case, the address 
was made without manuscript and only the 
spirit of the burning testimony, not its letter, 
remains as a cherished memory. 

The text he brought to this testimony ser- 
vice was, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy 
of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into 
the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." 
(He had announced in the morning that each 
one was expected to bring some verse of 
Scripture which meant something special to 
them in the light of their religious exper- 
ience.) 

He spoke very plainly that night. It 
seemed, he said, as if during those dark days 
of youthful doubt, he had lost his faith 
utterly. Everything was gone. He told his 
intimates of his mental state. They reasoned 



THE PASTOR EMERITUS. 



255 



with him, but it seemed to bring no relief. 
Then a prayer -meeting was held in his room 
by a few close friends. 

There, suddenly, he testified, the light 
broke and the dark clouds of doubt were dis- 
pelled. 

One student,he said, had been the special 
means of leading him back into his former at- 
titude of mind. He mentioned no name and 
in all probability that student has passed 
away. 

He gave for the last time his clear, un- 
mistakable testimony to "the faith that was in 
him." 

It was his fitting " Finis" in that old, 
familiar pulpit. He closed the Bible, and de- 
scended the accustomed pulpit stairs, never 
again to be ascended by him. 

The following Sunday morning he "fell 
asleep in Jesus." 

But not even from an earthly stand-point 
did Dr. Brookes' earthly ministry really cease 
that Sunday night, 

While the Bible is venerated, and while 
books about the Bible are read, his name will 
be honored among the children of men; while 
his ministry, through the multitudes of earnest 



256 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



souls he has saved, and through the printed 
page, will go on and on unto the shores of 
Eternity. 



Translated. 



CHAPTER XIX. 
TRANSLATED. 



t sunrise on Easter Sunday, April 18, 
1897, tne Rev. James Hall Brookes, D. 
D., died, aged 67 years, 1 month and 
22 days. 

At his bed-side were his wife, his three 
married daughters, their husbands, and his 
sister." 55 " 

As a tired child might sink to sleep in 
utmost peace, without a murmur or a struggle, 
the good and great man was translated. His 
death — as his life — was a sermon. 



On his way home from church Sunday 
night, April 11, he began to feel ill. The 
next morning he was in a very serious condi- 
tion, and the worst was anticipated by his phy- 
sician and life-long friend, Dr. Lemoine. 

He seemed to improve on Wednesday, 

*jirs. Henrietta Brookes Treadway, who died after a long and 
painful illness, patiently borne, Oct. 29, 1897, at the home of her sister- 
in-law. She was interred by the side of her husband at Pulaski, Tenn. 

'• 259 




260 JAMKS H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



and hope was not given up until the Saturday 
following. That night the physician told the 
family to prepare for the worst. At midnight 
all gathered about his bedside and were with 
him until the end. 



All through his last illness, while wholly 
or partially conscious, he was heard to quote 
Scripture; and his last recognizable words 
were: ' 'It cometh by the way of the East, 
the glory — as it is in Ezekiel" — the rest of 
the sentence could not be caught. 

He seemed to be wholly free from pain; 
much of the time he was asleep or semi- 
asleep. But however drowsy he was he recog- 
nized his dear wife as she constantly minister- 
ed to him. 



Many were struck by the triumphant 
majesty and spiritual beauty of the face of the 
dead. To some it seemed as if thirty years 
had been rolled backward, and he was before 
them the Doctor Brookes they had known 
when in his splendid meridian of life. 

A gray-haired minister, after gazing upon 
the form of his old friend, said: "Look at that, 
and then say there is nothing in Christianity!" 

Similar were the impressions of a little 



TRANSLATED. 



261 



grandchild. "It didn't look like grandpa," 
he confided to his mother; "it looked just like 
an angel." 

For his funeral service and burial Dr. 
Brookes had left plainest directions in his 
will. These were: 

"It is my particular request that at my 
funeral no oration, nor eulogy, nor a word 
about myself shall be uttered. Let some min- 
ister, or other friend, read 2 Cor. v. 1-10; 1 
Cor. xv; 1 Thess. iv. 13-18; Rev. xxi. 1-7. 
This, and nothing more." 

Like everything else of his, Dr. Brookes' 
will was characteristic. This document he 
drew up in April, 1896. He began his testa- 
ment thus: 

"It is my wish to state, as a preamble, my 
faith in the inerrant inspiration of the sacred 
Scriptures, in the atoning blood of the Lord 
Jesus Christ, and in the hope of His coming 
again. 

"My library is left to my children, each 
selecting such books as they may desire. The 
rest of the books may be presented to some 
poor and faithful preacher, or preachers, at 
their discretion." 

He then gave directions for his simple 



262 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 



funeral service which have already been 
quoted. There followed directions concerning 
his grave. His wish, which has been faith- 
fully carried out, was: 

"A plain granite slab, not less than four 
inches thick, shall cover both graves — (that 
where his widow shall rest, and his own). 

"The foundation must be deep, and 
strong and immovable as any human work 
can be. Entirely across the face of the granite 
slab, covering both graves, cut the words: 

" ' Having lived together in love for forty- 
three years, they sleep together in hope until 
the morning of the Resurrection; when they 
shall be caught up together in the clouds to 
meet the Lord in the air; and so shall they 
ever be with the Lord/ " 

Then came words to be lovingly remem- 
bered by his dear ones: "My great desire is 
that my children and their husbands, and the 
little ones whom God has given them, may 
perform faithfully the work to which they are 
called in the world, and that we may all meet j 
without the loss of one, in the Everlasting 
Home which Christ has gone on before to 
prepare for His people, redeemed by His 
precious blood." 



TRANSLATED. 



263 



THE LAST HONORS. 

The great auditorium of the church in 
which he had ministered for thirty-nine years 
was crowded before the hour set for the serv- 
ices. In the rear hundreds were standing. 
Others could not even get into the auditorium. 

There were scores present to whom Dr. 
Brookes had gently and faithfully ministered 
in their own hours of woe. And those now 
"wept with those who wept." 

The officers of the church had ordered 
the church fittingly draped and embellished; 
and the floral artisans themselves seemingly 
strove to do their duty perfectly. 

Before the pulpit which had been erected 
for him, that which was mortal of the great 
man was brought. 

A blanket of beatiful roses, the gift of the 
three daughters, completely covered the coffin. 
Only those flowers were laid upon it. 

When Dr. Meade C. Williams announced 
the words of direction which the dead pastor 
had left concerning his funeral service, many 
of the vast audience must have felt some sur- 
prise or disappointment — at first. 

But soon the friends saw that they were 
mistaken, and that there was grandeur in the 



264 



JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR, 



very simplicity of the service. It is not easy 
to imagine any funeral more impressive, more 
uplifting. 

Dr. Brookes had never extolled himself 
in life, nor sought human encomiums; and in 
death he desired no formal praise. He must 
have known, to some extent at least, in how 
many homes and hearts he had won a place. 
He must have foreseen, modest as he always 
was, that among the multitudes who loved and 
admired him heart would speak to heart when 
his end came. The fellow pastors read the 
favorite passages of Scripture; hymns Dr. 
Brookes had loved were sung; fervent 
prayers were offered, and the solemn memorial 
service was over. 



It was a clear, beautiful day. The cor- 
tege wound its course to the Bellefontaine 
Cemetery in the sunshine. 

The reading of a few verses of Scripture 
and a touching prayer were heard at the grave. 

4 'Well done, thou good and faithful ser- 
vant," said Dr. Farris, as he turned from the 
side of his old companion; and every one in 
the throng about the family burial site echoed 
his saying in the heart. 

Soon, rarest and simplest flowers, the 



265 



gifts of the high and the lowly — of all creeds 
and no creeds- — were placed in beautiful pro- 
fusion over the grave. 

The sun was sinking as the stricken dear 
ones left him. As they turned and looked 
backward its rays suddenly burst in splendor 
upon the very spot, glorifying the trees above 
and the tlowers below as with a halo. 

And, spite of tears, peace was in the air, 
and in their souls. 

"O grave, where is thy victory; 
O death, where is thy sting? " 

FINIS. 



Hppendt*. 



CONTRIBUTORS. 
President Ethelbert D. Warfield, Lafayette College, Pa. 
Rev. Dr. H. M. Parsons, Toronto. 

Prof. W. G. Moorehead, Thelogical Seminary, Xenia, Ohio. 
Rev. W. J. Erdman, Germantown, Pa. 

Prof. Benj. B. Warfield, Princeton Theological Seminary. 

Prof. D. C. Marquis, McCormick Theological Seminary. 

Samuel W. Barber, Clerk of Session, Washing-ton & Conip- 
ton Ave. Church. 

Robert U. Garrett, Asheville, N. C, and other friends. 



APPENDIX. 



269 



DE. BKOOKES' PERSONALITY. 

There is probably no force or combination of forces in 
human character so admirable as that which we sum up in 
saying that a man has a strong personality. And when 
that personality is constantly exerted for righteousness, we 
bare the noblest of earthly influences. From my earliest 
acquaintance with Doctor Brookes I was impressed with 
the tremendous force of his personality. It was never a 
question merely of what he thought, or knew, or felt, it 
was ever what he was. His thinking, feeling, knowing, 
were all fused into his personality, arid he exerted tbat 
personality under the influence of the Holy Spirit for the 
service of God. 

It was my privilege to know him very intimately and to 
be bound to him by a very close and tender tie, and it is a 
pleasure to testify to the largeness and breadth, the sim- 
plicity and consistency of his nature. It is hard to say 
whfithe.r the strongest impression he made upon me was 
that of a singularly simple and sincere man, or of a man 
of great energy and force. Simplicity is the unfailing 
mark of truly great men, and he had it in a very high de- 
gree. It was seen in his love for the companionship of little 
children, in his abounding sympathy, in his impatience of 
sham. The forcefulness of his character breathed in his 
every movement; and but for the sincerity and simplicity 
of his life might easily have overbalanced his other quali- 
ties. As it was, in life, in speech, in the abundant fruitag'e 
of his pen, he bore a strong and assuring testimony to the 
truth whose minister he was. 

Such a life as his was in itself "a gospel for an age of 
doubt." His faith was not only sublime, it was contagious. 
His frank and fearless mind not only cherished no mental 
reservations, but sought no subtle and uncertain forms of 
expression. Those who heard him know that he had given 
all he was wholly, absolutely, to the dear Lord who died 
for him. 

Xot only was this so, but he was able, as few men are, to 
give a reason for the faith that was in him. His mastery of 



270 



APPENDIX. 



the English Bible was almost unique. His Bible readings 
were convincing, consoling, compelling in their richness, 
completeness and consistency. He knew what he was seek- 
ing to set forth, he knew where the evidence was to be 
found, and he knew how to present it. Herein his large 
and logical mind found ample scope and was scarcely less 
effective than in the greater field of the pulpit in which he 
was so conspicuously blessed by the love of his people and 
the favor of his God. 

As I think of him, the words which Tennyson uses in 
speaking of Lazarius rise in my mind: 

"Behold a man raised up by Christ." 

Not from the grave, but from sin and worldliness, was 
he raised up to the full stature of the man who in Jesus 
Christ lives and labors. Such might have been the daily 
comment on his life. 

ETHELBERT D. WARFIELD. 

Lafayette College. 



"A FAITHFUL PEOPHET."* 

Dr. Brookes was a man of noble personal qualities, and 
most tender and affectionate in all social relations. For 
twenty years our acquaintance was most intimate, and 
chiefly in searching and seeking the meaning' of the pro- 
phetic Scriptures. He has been the means of reaching and 
saving many who were in darkness and sorrow, through his 
most faithful gospel teachings, and especially by the words 
of sympathy and comfort to mourners he so frequently and 
tenderly expressed. 

He has always and with notable power vindicated the 
Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, in their original 
tongues, to be the very words of the Holy Spirit by the men 
who wrote and spake them, and thus to be eternally the 
Word of God. 

*This, and some other articles in the appendix, appeared 
in the memorial number (June, '97) of The Truth. 



APPENDIX. 



271 



In addition to this most valiant service, he always main- 
tained the supreme authority of the Bible upon the in- 
dividual conscience and life. His own life was a beautiful 
example of this. More than any one I ever knew, he had 
the Holy Scriptures verbally in memory, and could give in 
logical form the very words of the Bible, the best defence 
of the truth they reveal. 

While he looked upon this present evil age with sincere 
pity for those who are deceived, and with cordial sympathy 
for those who are oppressed with griefs and sorrows, he 
could use a sterness and severity of rebuke in dealing' with 
the enemies of faith which only could arise from his most 
intimate communion and personal acquaintance with the 
fundamental principles of truth and justice in the divine 
character. 

The utterances of the ancient prophets Avho were com- 
missioned by Jehovah to declare His judgments upon Israel 
and Judas for their transgressions, and especially for their 
worldly idolatry, found in his heart such meaning* and such 
pertinent application to this present age, that he could not 
refrain from testifying as a faithful prophet of God to that 
which he knew, and which he saw in the church and the 
world of to-day. For this reason he was disliked and de- 
spised by many, who saw in his repeated testimony the 
condemnation and exposure of their fallacies and deceptive 
errors. 

Though our dear brother is now at rest, his works will 
long remain to witness to the world his unswerving* loyalty 
to God's revealed Word. The last "Notes by the Way" in 
April number of Truth, is more significant as connected 
with his departure to be with the Lord; and the familiar 
repetition of the "sevens," seems like a completion of a well 
rounded life. 

"A sure reward," Ps. lviii. 11; Eom. iv. 5. 

1. "The Lord Himself is the reward," Gen. xv. 1. 

2. "Trusting in Him has a reward," Euth ii. 12. 

3. "Keeping the words of God has a reward," Ps. xix. 11. 

4. "The persecuted for Christ's sake have a reward," 
Matt. v. 12. 



272 



APPENDIX. 



5. "Self-denial has a reward," Matt. xvi. 24, 27. 

6. "Humble service has a reward," Mark ix. 41. 

7. "Sincere faith has a reward," Heb. xi. 6. 

Truly in all his published works will be found such a 
clear and lucid use of the divine words, that it may be 
said of him, as of one of old, "by it he being* dead yet 
speaketh." 

II . M. PARSONS. 

Toronto. 



TWO MARKED CHARACTERISTICS. 

* * Of the many thoughts that rush into the mind and 
almost clamor for utterance when one sits down to write 
of Dr. J. H. Brookes, only two must now be mentioned. 
One is, his absolute and unfaltering" conviction of the in- 
errant truth of Scripture. To him the Bible was the very 
voice and words of the living- God. All his life through, 
and especially in his later years, he stood for the doctrine 
of the plenary and verbal inspiration of the Holy Scrip- 
tures, where, alas! comparatively few now stand, even 
among those who are recognized as teachers and expound- 
ers of the word. He believed the Bible through and 
through. He repelled attacks upon it with all the power of 
his splendid manhood, but he never for an instant dreamed 
of apoligizing for it. It was enough for him that "God 
spake all these words." Whether he could satisfactorily 
explain all its difficulties and apparent discrepancies or not 
was a secondary matter, for he well knew that there are 
depths in Scripture that no human mind, however acute 
and penetrating, can ever fully explain; but he could no 
more have offered an excuse for the Bible or for its form, 
than he could for the creation of the planet, or for the 
government of the universe. 

Besides, he bowed to the authority of Scripture with a 
submissiveness of spirit which is rare indeed in these de- 
generate times. For mere human learning as such, for 



APPENDIX. 



273 



science "falsely so called," for pride of intellect, and for 
the vaunted "progress" of the race, he had a sovereign con- 
tempt. * * 

Another thing that distinguished Dr. Brookes was his 
feeling respecting dca1l(. It was a feeling somewhat pe- 
culiar to him, and quite remarkable. His own dying is 
not meant, nor that of any one dear to him. A personal fear 
of death did not oppress him more than others of the Lord's 
people. All we know of his last days on earth forbids the 
notion that he shrank from it, or was troubled by its ap- 
proach. What is meant is, that he had what may be called 
a righteous indignation against death. To him as to no 
other we have ever known or heard preach the Gospel of 
the grace of God, death was an enemy, an implacable, in- 
exorable foe! It was the symbol of the curse of sin, the 
wages of sin, the destroyer of all we love and cherish, the 
awful doom of the world. * '* Some of us have seen 
his massive frame quiver with anguish when he spoke of 
it; his voice grow hoarse with suppressed emotion or choke 
with sobs. And with what thrilling, triumphant accents 
would his bell-like voice ring* out the glad words of the 
Holy Ghost: "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is 
death!" It was this deep insight into the tremendous 
significance of death that made the blessed hope of the 
Lord's speedy coming a living and transcendently glorious 
event to him. He looked for the blessed return of Christ. 

He has fallen asleep. Was he disappointed? No more 
than was Paul, who also waited and watched for the Lord; 
no more than multitudes in all the ages to the present, who 
likewise watched and waited. Asleep in Jesus, our brother 
does not cease to wait, perhaps all the more waits for that 
blessed day when his body shall be raised up and made like 
unto the body of the glory of the Lord Jesus. As one by 
one the saints pass away, with what pathetic longing do 
we say, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly." 

WILLIAM G. MOOEEHEAD. 

Xenia, Ohio. 



274 



APPENDIX. 



"THOSE WHO KNEW HIM BEST, LOVED HIM MOST." 

About twenty-seven years ago I first met Dr. Brookes in 
a Christian Conference held in his church in St. Louis. 
Of those in attendance as speakers, three names have ever 
since been associated, in mind, as inseparable from a 
peculiar testimony and defence of the faith in its primitive 
and apostolic form; James Inglis, editor of The Witness and 
of Waymarks in the Wilderness; Charles Campbell, editor of 
Grace and Truth, and James H. Brookes, editor of The 
Truth. 

In The Truth Dr. Brookes revealed himself in such char- 
acteristic features, that what he wrote was as to matter 
and manner very like what he was in public discourse in 
fearlessness and power, and in private intercourse in 
geniality and graciousness of spirit. 

In him was a rare combination of the lion and the lamb. 
His exposure and denunciation of all he deemed contrary 
to the Word of God, the dignity of Christ and the calling 
of the church, showed one phase of his character; but his 
tender and touching testimony concerning the grace of 
God, the believer's assurance of salvation and "the blessed 
hope," revealed quite another. Many, however, who knew 
him only through his vigorous defence of the truth of the 
gospel and the integrity of the sacred Scriptures, can hard- 
ly understand how tender and sympathetic a heart beat in 
that manly form. 

Often as he was charged with giving offence, none was 
more ready to ask forgiveness than he; but he also held 
the truth of the Bible and honor of Christ dearer than any 
human friendship or his own reputation or life. 

Those who knew him best loved him most. As a leader 
in the Bible Conference with which he was identified from 
its beginning, he ever bore a marked and peculiar testi- 
mony. * * I shall ever thank God for the friendship 
and fellowship in Christ of one who must always be counted 
among "the worthies of the faith." 

W. J. ERDMAX. 

Germantown, Pa. 



APPENDIX. 



275 



NO ANAEMIC CHRISTIAN. 

In Dr. James H. Brookes the Christian church has lost 
one of its most faithful ministers, one of its most powerful 
advocates ,and withal one of the most picturesque figures 
which have graced its pulpit in our generation. 

Large in figure, commanding in carriage, fluent and 
forceful in speech, fired with intense convictions, infused 
with emotion, whether in pulpit or on platform his oratory 
not only caught the attention, but dominated the feelings 
and controlled the convictions of his audience. My own 
memory of him goes back nearly thirty years, when, as a 
student in Princeton College, I heard him preach occasion- 
ally to the college boys. We always heard him gladly; and 
we never heard him without profit to our spiritual life, or 
without searchings of heart and the fruitage of new en- 
deavors after righteousness. * * 

The intensity of the language in which he was wont to 
express himself was but the appropriate clothing of in- 
tense emotions rooted in intense convictions. With the 
voice of a lion and the vehemence of an Elijah, he united 
the simple faith of a child and the heart of a John. Like 
John, indeed, he waiS both a "son of thunder" and a "son 
of consolation." He could call down the fire of heaven on 
the heads of the Lord's enemies; but he knew also how to 
rest on the Lord's bosom, and how to say, "Little children, 
love one another." 

Singlehearted devotion to the cause of Christ; indigna- 
tion against those who assaulted it, whether in turret or 
foundation stone; intense sincerity and earnestness of pur- 
pose; have been the key-note of his character. His was 
no anaemic Christianity, and he had little patience with 
languid service in others. No one can tell the fruit of his 
labors. But surely the church is poorer that this fire has 
gone out from her midst; and there are hundreds though- 
out the length and breadth of the land who* will miss the 
impulse and exhorting they were accustomed to expect 
from him. 

BENJ. B. WARFIELD. 

Princeton, N. J. 



276 



APPENDIX. 



"A MARKED MAN." 

James H. Brookes ranked high, among- the great and 
noble men of his generation. His splendid physique, his 
manly bearing, his lofty courage, his superb gifts of voice 
and pen, his fearless devotion to truth and duty, his su- 
preme loyalty to Christ his sole Master and Lord, made 
him 1 a marked man among his fellows. 

What he believed he grasped and held with intensest 
force. His thought found no place for compromise of truth 
with error, of right with wrong. His love of truth was 
equalled only by his hatred of falsehood. His trenchant 
blows and strong denunciations were but the expression of 
his repudiation and abhorrence of every false way. Yet, 
notwithstanding the positiveness and strength of his con- 
victions, and the unmistakable directness and force of his 
expression, he possessed a gentle disposition, an affection- 
ate nature, a loving and gentle heart. In personal inter- 
course. hie beautifully illustrated the meekness and gentle- 
ness of Christ. He was a most g'enial, helpful and agree- 
able companion. 

His knowledge off the divine word was perhaps unequalled 
among the men of his time. But he not only carried the 
contents of the Word in his mind. He bore the spirit of 
it in his heart. In penmeated his being, suppressing' self 
and self-seeking', making him quickly sensitive and re- 
sponsive to all that was generous and true and sincere, and 
arousing swift antagonism to all that was selfish, am- 
bitious, or false. The contrast, however, between his 
rough handling of error and his tender teaching of the 
sincere, is not more marked than is the contrast between 
the dealings of Jesus with Pharisees and disciples. For 
the one, he had only the severe rebuke, the stern denuncia- 
tion. For the other, he had only the helpfulness of sym- 
pathy, gentleness and strength. 

The multitudes who have been helped by his expositions 
of divine truth will make his crown glorious with innumer- 
able stars "at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all 
His saints." 

D. C. MARQUIS. 

McCormick Seminary. 



APPENDIX. 



277 



DR. BROOKES IX THE SESSIOX. 

Every pastor of a larg-e city congregation, feels the need 
of a body of men in official connection with him. appointed 
to be his helpers in the work, on whom he may lean for 
support and with whom he may confer freely at all times 
in regard to the interests of the church. Such a group 
stood by Dr. Brookes as pastor of the Walnut Street, after- 
wards the Washington and Compton Avenue Church, and 
it is fitting that the Session of the church should put on 
record such notice of some of his characteristics as might 
not come to the light through any other channel. 

Dr. Brookes highly esteemed his official family, and loved 
to have them g-ather around him in the privacy of the 
session room and freely discuss the questions that arose, 
and in all the years of his pastorate, extending' over thirty, 
there was at no time such serious difference between him 
and them as to make it impossible for them to work to- 
gether. Although, in accordance with his vigorous con- 
stitution, his mental vision was clear and positive and his 
convictions strong and deep, he could and did, not infre- 
quently, subordinate his own opinion to theirs, believing 
them to be taught of the Spirit of God and given to him for 
advisers and not for ciphers. Was he independent? They 
were likewise; but hence arose no division, no hindrance to 
the common weal of the beloved church. They walked 
shoulder to shoulder down the ripening' 3-ears till the very 
hour of his translation. 

One notable characteristic of Dr. Brookes was his intense 
Jove of souls. He was ever planning' and acting" for the 
proclamation of the gospel to the neglected. He was ready 
to lend his voice and labors to any legitimate effort to bring 
people under the gospel messag-e or carry it to them, and 
he followed his preaching by private and personal counsels 
that he might "by all means save some." He was instru- 
mental in establishing a number of missions in this city, 
one particularly at the corner of Broadway and Biddle 
Street, from which his church received about one hundred 



278 



APPENDIX. 



and fifty members, the fruit of his faithful teaching in and 
out of the pulpit. Later on, he lent his efficient aid to the 
planting- of the flourishing mission entitled the "Compton 
Hill Chapel," now numbering more than one hundred and 
fifty com m unicants, and a power for good in the railroad 
district in the heart of the city. Many a weary tramp he 
took to reach this shelter for souls, that he might preach 
the Word or administer the sacraments and see the precious 
plant of God growing sensibly before his eyes. But, one 
or two such missions did not satisfy his craving for souls. 
He said that he would like to have twenty preaching places 
within reach and he would engage to keep them all going 
and serve his own church also. Less than six months be- 
fore his departure, though laboring under fatal disease, he 
visited a northern city at the invitation of one of its pastors, 
and preached day after day for a week that he might still 
bring forth fruit and lend himself to his favorite work. 

Connected naturally with this passion for saving sonls 
was his tender reception of such as appeared before the 
Session for examination with a view to a public confession. 
Usually, he had seen them in private and gained their con- 
fidence, as he sounded the depths of their spiritual knowl- 
edge and the sincerity of their reliance for salvation on a 
gracious Saviour. But, even if he had not, his manner was 
so winning, his questions so helpful, his advice so enlighten- 
ing, that none would fail to give evidence to the session of 
a clear and intelligent comprehension of the subject, if, in- 
deed, they were truly regenerated. The session were often 
surprised at the remarkable testimony given by mere 
children, elicited by his master mind in his manner of lay- 
ing before them the fundamental truths of Scripture. 

The last feature which space allows us to mention was 
his desire that there should be a continuous revival in the 
church. It was to his intense satisfaction that he could say 
that in all the years of his pastorate there had never been 
a communion without some additions, few or many, to the 
church. But, he earnestly desired to see the work of the 
Lord, that is, the salvation of souls, prospering with great 



APPENDIX. 



279 



power and without cessation. He deprecated the view that 
the Lord would not visit his people and refresh his Vine- 
yard in summer as well as in winter, that the Lord regard- 
ed times and seasons as men do. He was of the opinion that 
whenever the tithes were brought into the Lord's house the 
outpouring would surely follow. His regard for the Word 
of God was so unreserved that he received it in its literal- 
ness, and believed that if the terms of a promise were com- 
plied with the stated result would inevitably come to pass, 
and this more especially in respect to the work of the 
ministry. 

He magnified his calling, he gloried in its unlimited op- 
portunities for saving the lost, and in its immediate co^ 
operation with the Lord in extending the triumphs of the 
Cross. While his eye was fixed unswervingly on the ra- 
diant glory of the Lord's coming-, his heart was as intently 
earnest in labor for the multiplication of converts and the 
swelling of the retinue of the Lord of Lords and King of 
Kings which He should bring with Him. 

To the session he was a noble leader, in the session he 
was a faithful and loving brother, to copy his spirit-taught 
zeal is our worthy ambition, and to cherish the memory of 
his self-sacrificing work and his ever ready sympathy shall 
be a life lasting j)leasure. 

Lovingly contributed by 

THE SESSION OF WASHINGTON & COMPTON AVE, 
CHURCH. 

Per S. W. BARBER, Clerk. 

St. Louis, Oct. 30, 1897. 



DR. BROOKES IN THE SICK-ROOM. 

One of the most precious of the Master's gifts is sym- 
pathy, — the power to enter into the joys and sorrows of 
others. 

"A heart at leisure from itself to soothe and sympathize." 



280 



APPENDIX. 



Ready to rejoice with those that rejoice, and to weep with 
those that weep. 

A double portion of this lovely spirit was given to our 
late beloved pastor. Perhaps no where was his beautiful 
tenderheartedness more perfectly shown than in the sick- 
room. 

His great warm heart went out in overflowing sympathy 
for the suffering ones. His very presence seemed to soothe 
the tortured nerves and bring calmness and rest. How 
often it came to pass as he read to the sufferer from the 
Word he so loved the glorious promises, or told in his own 
wonderfully clear way the story of Calvary, the unrest, the 
shadows, the darkness would pass away; and pain be al- 
most forgotten in the joy and gladness of the heart-rest 
and the light. 

How welcome he was in the homes that death had made 
desolate ! The heart torn with grief never shrank from his 
gentle touch. When words seemed almost meaningless 
and the suffering heart cried out in its agony, "Miserable 
comforters are ye all," he came. He made the sorrow his 
own, and his loving sympathy, his words of oheer and help 
will never be forgotten while life lasts. 

The record of these numberless loving ministries can 
never be written except in the hearts of those they have 
blest; but what a story will be told in the glorious here- 
after! There in the presence of our Lord forever and ever 
we will render joyful thanksgiving to our Father for the 
gift of such a pastor as Dr. Brookes was. 

"ONE OF HIS PEOPLE." 



PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS. 

It was my privilege to be his companion on his last jour- 
ney to Niagara and the return to his retreat in our western 
Carolina mountains, where he was spending a part of the 
summer. Those who knew Dr. Brookes personally can 
understand how many happy memories cluster around that 



APPENDIX. 281 

four days of travel. We had "Niagara" all to ourselves in 
the sleeper to and from that Conference. 

The "little flock" is bereft of a leader whose boldness in 
defense of "the faith" won for him the criticism of that 
alarmingly increasingly element in the professing church 
which insists upon speaking only "smooth words," lest the 
enemies of Christ and of His truth, in the pulpit and out of 
it, be "offended." 

Though "absent from the body" his written testimony 
will continue to bear fruit to the glory of His name "till 
He come." 

EOBT. U. GABEETT. 

Asheville, N. C. 



When the word was brought to me that I should see no 
more with mortal eyes the face of my beloved friend and 
teacher, James H. Brookes, I felt that he might well have 
passed to the presence of his Lord with Paul's great 
triumph song upon his lips: "I have fought a good fight; I 
have finished my course; I have kept the faith." There 
was in him the heart of David's mighty men. Like Eleazer, 
"his hand clave unto the sword." The Word of God was 
ever the end of controversy with him, and also the sword 
which he valiantly wielded. 

Our brother will be remembered as a brave defender of 
the faith once for all delivered to the saints, but some of 
us know how tender and how helpful was the great heart 
now stilled, in death. My own personal obligations to him 
are beyond words. He sought me in the first days of my 
Christian life, and was my first and best teacher in the 
oracles of God. 

C. I. SCOFIELD. 

The Parsonage, E. Northfield, Mass. 



In the death of James H. Brookes we lose the bravest 
and ablest defender of the faith in this generation, with 
weapons drawn from the arsenal of the word itself, against 



282 appendix, 

the treasonable assaults of this present and last prophetic 
apostasy. 

He was also a powerful preacher and masterly teacher, 
combining- strength and tenderness, power and pathos. 

We who knew him personally lose a kind, affectionate 
and true friend. 

We speak of him, not for vain eulogy, for he would say, 
"Cease from man," but would fain prolong his faithful tes- 
timony from the tomb. 

E. P. MARVIN. 

Lockport, N. Y. 



I knew him from the time I was a student in college, a 
quarter of a century ago, and long before he knew me. 
He was no man's enemy, but the unrelenting enemy of 
error; and he had the courage of his convictions. He used 
plain and unmistakable words. It was his firm conviction 
that no softer ones were adequate. His knowledge of the 
contents of the Bible was marvelous. To him the book 
was God's word and final. 

Many believe just as he did, but few have the daring 
which he displayed to declare their views. He stood like 
an Old Testament prophet, witnessing for God and His 
Word, fearing none, high or low. He looked upon himself 
as a lonely man, but few had such ardent friends, and even 
those against whose errors his thunderbolts were shot 
could not help but admire his courage. 

J. M. STIFLER. 

Chester, Pa. 



A COLORED WOMAN'S TESTIMONY. 

Jenny, a colored sister and member of his church, says of 
Dr. Brookes: 

"He put no difference between poor and rich. My 
brother-in-law, named Jackson, was sick and going to die, 
and me and my sister was dreadful anxious because he 
would not talk to us about his soul. He just wouldn't say 



APPENDIX. 



283 



anything", and we couldn't tell whether he was believin' in 
Jesus or not; and so, says I, I'll go and see Dr. Brookes and 
ask hirn to come and talk to Jack and pray for him? 

"Well, I went to his house and he came out to the door 
just as friendly as if I was one of his rich members, as he 
always was, and, says he, 'What can I do for you, Jenny?' 
Then I told him all about it, and he said he would see him. 

He had a funeral to attend and then he had to see a dying 
lady, and he had a man inside the house at that time on 
business, and had a meeting- in the south part of the city; 
'but,' says he, 'I'll get there if its twelve o'clock to-night.' 
So I gave him directions how to get in to Jack's house, 
which was in an inside yard with an alley leadin' in from 
the street. So, sure enough, along late in the evening they 
heard him come gropin' in and knockin' at the door and 
savin', 'It's me, Mr. Brookes!' They let him in and he sat 
right down by the bed and gx>t out his little testament and 
read a number of places; then he took Jack's hand and 
talked to him. oh! so sweet, about Jesus and heaven and 
the way to be saved, and Jack took it all in and the Lord 
helped him to believe. Then the doctor knelt down and 
prayed for him and pled with the Lord to open his eyes to 
see Jesus as his Savious, and when he got up and asked him 
whether he believed, he said, 'Yes, I do; glory be to God,' 
and he kept on that way and died rejoicin*. 

"I tell you, he loved colored people and wanted them 
saved just the same as whites." * * * 



EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS. 

From all sections of this land, and from abroad, there 
came letters to the family bearing words of sincere praise 
for the departed one, and of tender sympathy for the 
bereaved. The following are extracts: 



"My heart g'oes out to you. * * * I was glad that I 
heard him pray once more on earth, (Dr. Brookes' prayer 



284 



APPENDIX. 



at one of Mr. Moody's recent St. Louis meetings.) It did 
me good. Dear man, he is free from his sufferings now, 
and how he will enjoy heaven! What a grand time he will 
have in that world of Light and Joy. He may soon be 
back again with his Saviour. I do nob think he would like 
to come back again in the flesh. So he has gained by what 
we call death. * * * " — D. L. Moody. 



"Last evening I learned of the death of my dear friend, 
'Captain Great-heart,' leader in Christ's battles, to whom I 
owe so much, for; loyal, loving friendship for a quarter of a 
century, and for clear and faithful teaching, and for heroic 
defence of the truth. For me, and for hundreds beside me, 
'a great man and a prince has fallen in Israel.' He was my 
ideal of a preacher of the word of God, and an inspirer oi 
other men to quit themselves valiantly for Christ. There 
is no one to take his place; no one whose voice can reach 
so far; no> one with arm so strong to wield the sword for 
the truth. I thank God that I ever knew him, and for all 
that I have received from God through him." — Major D. 
W. Whittle, 



"He was more to me in the Master's work than any living 
man. His fidelity to God's Word was my first inspiration 
to its close study and verbal declaration, and above all 
others, he was my model as a faithful herald." — Eev. W. E. 
Dobyns. 



"I know what he was in his own home, my dear cousin. 
He was always and everywhere your lover, tender and true 
in every fibre of his great loving heart. * * * It is easy 
and sweet to think of him in heaven. His citizenship has 
been there for many years, and he had learned the speech 
of that country." — Mary Virginia Terhune. 



APPENDIX. 



285 



"He had, as few men have, fought the good fight, finished 
the course, kept the faith. And to his cleared vision, the 
hope of that appearing which he loved is brighter and more 
blessed than ever." — Rev. W. H. Marquess. 



"There are few men I esteemed so highly and loved so 
much as Dr. Brookes. His devotion to truth, his frank and 
manly testimony in a time of wide-spread defection, made 
him a great power not only in the community in which he 
lived so long, and which he served so ably and faithfully, 
but in the whole world. * * * 

"He is one of the few who, though dead, will continue to 
speak. How beautiful that he should slip away from us on 
Easter morning." — Eev. M. Rhodes. 



EDITORIAL EXPRESSIONS. 

"Dr. Brookes was eminently a man of 'the Book' and 'a 
minister of the Word.' He put himself in utter subjection 
to its authority. * * He seemed peculiarly to illustrate 
the mind of the apostles. As a pastor his one aim appeared 
to be the application of the Word for comfort, for instruc- 
tion in righteousness, or for rebuke. In character he was 
warmhearted, sympathetic and tender. He was singularly 
ingenuous and transparent and always manly. He was 
ingenuous and transparent and always manly. * * " — 
Dr. Meade C. Williams, in Herald and Presbyter. 



"Dr. Brookes was one of the ablest Bible preachers of 
his time, fully possessed Of absolute faith in the Word, 
familiar with it as a book, and a profound student of its 
truth, ajid last, trained in its perfect use of the Saxon, it 
made him a dogmatic and powerful preacher of the type of 
the old prophets, whose spirit he had so fully imbibed that 
he was much like them." — Dr. W. C. Gray, in the Interior. 



286 



APPENDIX. 



"Few have more endeared themselves to those who love 
the Word of God and the God of the Word than Dr. Brookes. 
His loyal defence of the truth in days when it is being" 
attacked upon every quarter, made Dr. Brookes a marked 
man, and called for as warm and tender a love on the part 
of his friends as the reverse on the part of others." — 
China's Millions. 



"He developed excellent power in the Lord's work from 
the first. * * He was one of the signers of the 'Declara- 
tion and Testimony,' the protest of Kentuckians and Mis- 
sourians (put forth in 1865). * * As editor of The Truth 
* * he has exercised an influence far beyond his pas- 
torate." — Christian Observer. 



"As a valiant upholder of the old-fashioned gospel, Dr. 
Brookes had no superior in this country. For many years 
he was a most successful pastor, but it was by his many 
writing's he was known to and loved by a very large circle 
of readers." — Episcopal Recorder. 



"He had no difficulties in regard to accepting every jot 
and title of the Word. It was to him God's own truth, 
entirely unmixed with human error. There lay his 
strength. * * He was a power in the church." — Michigan 
Presbyterian. 



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